Activation, exhaustion, and persistent decline of the antimicrobial MR1-restricted MAIT-cell population in chronic HIV-1 infection

摘要: Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are an evolutionarily conserved antimicrobial MR1-restricted T-cell subset. MAIT CD161(+), express a V7.2 TCR, primarily CD8(+) and numerous in blood mucosal tissues. However, their role HIV-1 infection is unknown. In this study, we found levels of to be severely reduced circulation patients with chronic infection. Residual were highly activated functionally exhausted. Their decline was associated time since diagnosis, activation levels, the concomitant expansion subset impaired CD161(+) V7.2(+) cells. Such generated vitro by exposure Escherichia coli. Notably, whereas function residual at least partly restored effective antiretroviral therapy, peripheral not restored. Interestingly, rectal mucosa relatively preserved, although some changes seen recapitulated mucosa. These findings consistent model which MAIT-cell compartment, possibly as result persistent microbial material, engaged, activated, exhausted, progressively persistently depleted during