Measles Virus Infects and Programs MAIT Cells for Apoptosis

Patrick T Rudak; Tony Yao; Christopher D Richardson; S M Mansour Haeryfar

doi:10.1093/infdis/jiaa407

Measles Virus Infects and Programs MAIT Cells for Apoptosis

J Infect Dis. 2021 Feb 24;223(4):667-672. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiaa407.

Authors

Patrick T Rudak¹, Tony Yao¹, Christopher D Richardson², S M Mansour Haeryfar^{1

3

4}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Western University, London, Canada.
² Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada.
³ Department of Medicine, Western University, London, Canada.
⁴ Department of Surgery, Western University, London, Canada.

Abstract

Measles virus (MeV) binds, infects, and kills CD150+ memory T cells, leading to immune amnesia. Whether MeV targets innate, memory-like T cells is unknown. We demonstrate that human peripheral blood and hepatic mucosa-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells and invariant natural killer T cells express surprisingly high levels of CD150, more than other lymphocyte subsets. Furthermore, exposing MAIT cells to MeV results in their efficient infection and rapid apoptosis. This constitutes the first report of direct MAIT cell infection by a viral pathogen. Given MAIT cells' antimicrobial properties, their elimination by MeV may contribute to measles-induced immunosuppression and heightened vulnerability to unrelated infections.

Keywords: iNKT cells; CD150; MAIT cells; apoptosis; cell death; immune amnesia; immunosuppression; measles; secondary infections; vaccination.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

Apoptosis*
Female
Humans
Interleukin-12 / immunology
Interleukin-18 / immunology
Leukocytes, Mononuclear / immunology
Male
Measles virus / physiology*
Membrane Cofactor Protein / genetics
Membrane Cofactor Protein / metabolism
Mucosal-Associated Invariant T Cells / immunology
Mucosal-Associated Invariant T Cells / physiology*
Mucosal-Associated Invariant T Cells / virology*
Natural Killer T-Cells / immunology
Natural Killer T-Cells / metabolism
Signaling Lymphocytic Activation Molecule Family Member 1 / genetics
Signaling Lymphocytic Activation Molecule Family Member 1 / metabolism
T-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology
T-Lymphocyte Subsets / metabolism

Substances

CD46 protein, human
IL18 protein, human
Interleukin-18
Membrane Cofactor Protein
SLAMF1 protein, human
Signaling Lymphocytic Activation Molecule Family Member 1
Interleukin-12

Grants and funding

PJT-156295/CIHR/Canada