Mucosal Associated Invariant T Cells in Cancer-Friend or Foe?
Mucosal associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are a population of unconventional T cells which can bridge the innate and adaptive immune systems. Well-described roles for MAIT cells include host protection against invading bacteria, fungi and viruses. Upon activation, MAIT cells become prolific effect...
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doaj-18d4ca37ec00457f9821f558a7fff4ed2021-03-30T23:00:11ZengMDPI AGCancers2072-66942021-03-01131582158210.3390/cancers13071582Mucosal Associated Invariant T Cells in Cancer-Friend or Foe?Chloe O’Neill0Féaron C. Cassidy1Donal O’Shea2Andrew E. Hogan3Lonsdale Human Health Institute, Maynooth University, W23 F2H6 Maynooth, Co Kildare, IrelandLonsdale Human Health Institute, Maynooth University, W23 F2H6 Maynooth, Co Kildare, IrelandSt Vincent’s University Hospital, University College Dublin, D04 T6F4 Dublin, IrelandLonsdale Human Health Institute, Maynooth University, W23 F2H6 Maynooth, Co Kildare, IrelandMucosal associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are a population of unconventional T cells which can bridge the innate and adaptive immune systems. Well-described roles for MAIT cells include host protection against invading bacteria, fungi and viruses. Upon activation, MAIT cells become prolific effector cells, capable of producing a range of cytokines and lytic molecules. In addition to their anti-microbial role, MAIT cells have been implicated in immune responses to cancer, with opposing beneficial and pathogenic roles reported. On the one hand, MAIT cells can home to the site of the tumour in many human cancers and can produce anti-tumour molecules. On the other, MAIT cells can display defective phenotypes in certain cancers and produce pro-tumour molecules. In this review, we discuss the current literature on the diverse roles for MAIT cells in cancer, outlining their frequencies, functions and associations with N staging and prognosis. We also discuss potential mechanisms underpinning cancer-related alterations in MAIT cells and highlight therapeutic approaches to harness or target MAIT cells in cancer.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/13/7/1582MAIT cellscancerimmune checkpointmetabolism |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Chloe O’Neill Féaron C. Cassidy Donal O’Shea Andrew E. Hogan |
spellingShingle |
Chloe O’Neill Féaron C. Cassidy Donal O’Shea Andrew E. Hogan Mucosal Associated Invariant T Cells in Cancer-Friend or Foe? Cancers MAIT cells cancer immune checkpoint metabolism |
author_facet |
Chloe O’Neill Féaron C. Cassidy Donal O’Shea Andrew E. Hogan |
author_sort |
Chloe O’Neill |
title |
Mucosal Associated Invariant T Cells in Cancer-Friend or Foe? |
title_short |
Mucosal Associated Invariant T Cells in Cancer-Friend or Foe? |
title_full |
Mucosal Associated Invariant T Cells in Cancer-Friend or Foe? |
title_fullStr |
Mucosal Associated Invariant T Cells in Cancer-Friend or Foe? |
title_full_unstemmed |
Mucosal Associated Invariant T Cells in Cancer-Friend or Foe? |
title_sort |
mucosal associated invariant t cells in cancer-friend or foe? |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Cancers |
issn |
2072-6694 |
publishDate |
2021-03-01 |
description |
Mucosal associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are a population of unconventional T cells which can bridge the innate and adaptive immune systems. Well-described roles for MAIT cells include host protection against invading bacteria, fungi and viruses. Upon activation, MAIT cells become prolific effector cells, capable of producing a range of cytokines and lytic molecules. In addition to their anti-microbial role, MAIT cells have been implicated in immune responses to cancer, with opposing beneficial and pathogenic roles reported. On the one hand, MAIT cells can home to the site of the tumour in many human cancers and can produce anti-tumour molecules. On the other, MAIT cells can display defective phenotypes in certain cancers and produce pro-tumour molecules. In this review, we discuss the current literature on the diverse roles for MAIT cells in cancer, outlining their frequencies, functions and associations with N staging and prognosis. We also discuss potential mechanisms underpinning cancer-related alterations in MAIT cells and highlight therapeutic approaches to harness or target MAIT cells in cancer. |
topic |
MAIT cells cancer immune checkpoint metabolism |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/13/7/1582 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT chloeoneill mucosalassociatedinvarianttcellsincancerfriendorfoe AT fearonccassidy mucosalassociatedinvarianttcellsincancerfriendorfoe AT donaloshea mucosalassociatedinvarianttcellsincancerfriendorfoe AT andrewehogan mucosalassociatedinvarianttcellsincancerfriendorfoe |
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