MR1, an immunological periscope of cellular metabolism

Andrew Chancellor; Alessandro Vacchini; Gennaro De Libero

doi:10.1093/intimm/dxab101

MR1, an immunological periscope of cellular metabolism

Int Immunol. 2022 Feb 23;34(3):141-147. doi: 10.1093/intimm/dxab101.

Authors

Andrew Chancellor¹, Alessandro Vacchini¹, Gennaro De Libero¹

Affiliation

¹ Experimental Immunology, Department of Research, University of Basel and University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland.

Abstract

The discovery that major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I-related molecule 1 (MR1) presents microbial antigens to mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells was a significant scientific milestone in the last decade. Surveillance for foreign metabolically derived antigens added a new class of target structures for immune recognition. The recent identification of a second family of MR1-restricted T cells, called MR1T cells, which show self-reactivity suggests the microbial antigens characterized so far may only represent a handful of the potential structures presented by MR1. Furthermore, the reactivity of MR1T cells towards tumours and not healthy cells indicates tight regulation in the generation of self-antigens and in MR1 expression and antigen loading. These novel and exciting observations invite consideration of new perspectives of MR1-restricted antigen presentation and its wider role within immunity and disease.

Keywords: MAIT; MR1T cells; antigen presentation; metabolite antigens; tumour metabolites.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Antigen Presentation
Autoantigens
Histocompatibility Antigens Class I
Minor Histocompatibility Antigens
Mucosal-Associated Invariant T Cells* / metabolism

Substances

Autoantigens
Histocompatibility Antigens Class I
Minor Histocompatibility Antigens