Abstract
Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are a unique T cell subset in mammals. They are present at high frequencies at mucosal tissue sites and have an intrinsic capacity to respond to microbial infections. The semi-invariant antigen recognition receptor of MAIT cells detects the non-polymorphic antigen-presenting molecule major histocompatibility complex class I-related protein 1 (MR1), which can bind microorganism-derived riboflavin metabolites. The striking evolutionary conservation in both the MR1 molecule and the MAIT T cell receptor suggests that strong selective pressures maintain this T cell pattern recognition system which detects microbial infection.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 14-19 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Nature Reviews Microbiology |
Volume | 11 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jan 2013 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Microbiology
- General Immunology and Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases