12 Jan 2016
Researchers discover new population of human T cells
Researchers from the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity (Doherty Institute) in collaboration with a team at Monash University have discovered a new population of disease-fighting T cells in the human immune system.
The study, published in Immunity (1) today, found that while these cells were a close relative of mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells that recognise bacteria such as mycobacterium tuberculosis and E. coli, they differed in the types of foreign molecules they can detect.
University of Melbourne Professor Dale Godfrey from the Doherty Institute, co-senior author of the paper explained that while MAIT cells typically detect vitamin B2 (riboflavin) metabolites that are produced by various types of bacteria, the new cells detect derivatives of vitamin B9 (folate), an essential dietary component, and may harness the ability to detect other common antigens that are structurally related to these molecules.
“These findings provide valuable new insight into the types of cells that comprise the human immune system, the various antigens they can recognise and therefore the types of diseases they may protect us from,” Professor Godfrey said.
“The next phase of our research will be to test whether they’re elevated, altered or depleted when presented with infectious and non infectious diseases with the aim of ultimately determining how they might be manipulated to fight disease.”
Co-senior author of the paper, Professor Jamie Rossjohn from Monash University said: “Using the Australian Synchrotron here in Melbourne, we provided insight into the molecular basis underpinning these responses.
“Collectively, this work potentially suggests a broader role for MAIT cells in the immune system, including in diseases of non-microbial aetiology."
Professor Sharon Lewin, Director of the Doherty Institute, said: “We know a lot about the immune system, but there are still many pieces of this very complex puzzle that are missing as identified by this study.
“This paper is a valuable addition to a series of pioneering studies on MAIT cells by a collaborative network of Australian researchers including teams headed by Professor James McCluskey, Deputy Vice Chancellor of Research at the University of Melbourne, Professors Godfrey (University of Melbourne) and Rossjohn (Monash University), and Professor David Fairlie from the University of Queensland."
Footnote:
(1) Gherardin, Keller et al. ‘Diversity of T Cells restricted by the MHC class I-related MR1 molecule facilitates differential antigen recognition’, Immunity, 12 January, 2016