Human MAIT cells are devoid of alloreactive potential: prompting their use as universal cells for adoptive immune therapy.

Marie Tourret, Nana Talvard-Balland, Marion Lambert, Ghada Ben Youssef, Mathieu F. Chevalier, Armelle Bohineust, Thomas Yvorra, Florence Morin, Saba Azarnoush, Olivier Lantz, Jean-Hugues Dalle, Sophie Caillat-Zucman. Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer.

https://doi.org/10.1002/JLB.5A1019-522RR

Mucosal associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are semi-invariant T cells that recognize microbial antigens presented by the highly conserved MR1 molecule. MAIT cells are predominantly localized in the liver and barrier tissues and are potent effectors of anti – microbial defense. MAIT cells are very few at birth and accumulate gradually over a period of about 6 years during infancy. The cytotoxic potential of MAIT cells, as well as their newly described regulatory and tissue repair functions, open the possibility of exploiting their properties in adoptive therapy. A prerequisite for their use as “universal” cells would be a lack of alloreactive potential, which remains to be demonstrated.