Shared and Distinct Phenotypes and Functions of Human CD161++ Vα7.2+ T Cell Subsets

• Published in: Frontiers in immunology 2017-08, Vol.8, p.1031-1031
• Main Authors: Kurioka, Ayako, Jahun, Aminu S, Hannaway, Rachel F, Walker, Lucy J, Fergusson, Joannah R, Sverremark-Ekström, Eva, Corbett, Alexandra J, Ussher, James E, Willberg, Christian B, Klenerman, Paul
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Immunology; innate-like T cells; MHC class I-related protein 1; MHC class I-related protein 1-tetramer; mucosal-associated invariant T cells; subsets; transcription factors
• ISSN: 1664-3224; 1664-3224
• DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.01031

Human mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are an important T cell subset that are enriched in tissues and possess potent effector functions. Typically such cells are marked by their expression of Vα7.2-Jα33/Jα20/Jα12 T cell receptors, and functionally they are major histocompatibility complex class I-related protein 1 (MR1)-restricted, responding to bacterially derived riboflavin synthesis intermediates. MAIT cells are contained within the CD161++ Vα7.2+ T cell population, the majority of which express the CD8 receptor (CD8+), while a smaller fraction expresses neither CD8 or CD4 coreceptor (double negative; DN) and a further minority are CD4+. Whether these cells have distinct homing patterns, phenotype and functions have not been examined in detail. We used a combination of phenotypic staining and functional assays to address the similarities and differences between these CD161++ Vα7.2+ T cell subsets. We find that most features are shared between CD8+ and DN CD161++ Vα7.2+ T cells, with a small but detectable role evident for CD8 binding in tuning functional responsiveness. By contrast, the CD4+ CD161++ Vα7.2+ T cell population, although showing MR1-dependent responsiveness to bacterial stimuli, display reduced T helper 1 effector functions, including cytolytic machinery, while retaining the capacity to secrete interleukin-4 (IL-4) and IL-13. This was consistent with underlying changes in transcription factor (TF) expression. Although we found that only a proportion of CD4+ CD161++ Vα7.2+ T cells stained for the MR1-tetramer, explaining some of the heterogeneity of CD4+ CD161++ Vα7.2+ T cells, these differences in TF expression were shared with CD4+ CD161++ MR1-tetramer+ cells. These data reveal the functional diversity of human CD161++ Vα7.2+ T cells and indicate potentially distinct roles for the different subsets .