Mucosal-associated invariant T cells are activated in an interleukin-18-dependent manner in Epstein-Barr virus-associated T/natural killer cell lymphoproliferative diseases

Yuriko Ishikawa; Masaki Yamada; Naomi Wada; Etsuko Takahashi; Ken-Ichi Imadome

doi:10.1093/cei/uxab004

Mucosal-associated invariant T cells are activated in an interleukin-18-dependent manner in Epstein-Barr virus-associated T/natural killer cell lymphoproliferative diseases

Clin Exp Immunol. 2022 Apr 4;207(2):141-148. doi: 10.1093/cei/uxab004.

Authors

Yuriko Ishikawa¹, Masaki Yamada¹, Naomi Wada¹, Etsuko Takahashi¹, Ken-Ichi Imadome¹

Affiliation

¹ Department of Advanced Medicine for Viral Infections, National Center for Child Health and Development (NCCHD), Tokyo, Japan.

Abstract

Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are a type of innate immune cells that protect against some infections. However, the involvement of MAIT cells in Epstein-Barr virus-associated T/natural killer cell lymphoproliferative diseases (EBV-T/NK-LPD) is unclear. In this study, we found that MAIT cells were highly activated in the blood of patients with EBV-T/NK-LPD. MAIT cell activation levels correlated with disease severity and plasma IL-18 levels. Stimulation of healthy peripheral blood mononuclear cells with EBV resulted in activation of MAIT cells, and this activation level was enhanced by exogenous IL-18. MAIT cells stimulated by IL-18 might thus be involved in the immunopathogenesis of EBV-T/NK-LPD.

Keywords: Epstein-Barr virus; interleukin-18; mucosal-associated innate T cell.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

Epstein-Barr Virus Infections* / complications
Herpesvirus 4, Human
Humans
Interleukin-18
Killer Cells, Natural
Leukocytes, Mononuclear / pathology
Lymphoproliferative Disorders* / etiology
Lymphoproliferative Disorders* / pathology
Mucosal-Associated Invariant T Cells*

Substances

Interleukin-18