Molecular analyses define Vα7.2-Jα33+ MAIT cell depletion in HIV infection. Medicine
Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are innate-like T-cells that may play a role in controlling systemic and mucosal bacterial infection in humans. Ussher et al. determined whether MAIT cells are truly depleted in HIV infection using molecular and cytometric approaches from blood of healthy controls and HIV-infected patients. They found a significant depletion of both messenger RNA and genomic DNA encoding the MAIT cell T cell receptor in HIV infection.
The study results indicate that MAIT cells are depleted from blood in HIV infection. Further studies to determine the role and the impact of MAIT cell depletion in HIV-induced immunodeficiency are warranted.