Transcriptomic studies of human MAIT cells in the lung

Mucosal-associated Invariant T (MAIT) cells are an innate-like T cell subset that recognize a broad array of microbial pathogens, including respiratory pathogens. We investigate the transcriptional profile MAIT cells localized to the human lung, and postulate that MAIT cells may play a role in maintaining homeostasis at this mucosal barrier. Using the MR1/5-OP-RU tetramer, we identified MAIT cells and non-MAIT CD8+ T cells in lung tissue from human organ donors, and blood from healthy donors, to define their abundance and phenotype. We then used RNA-sequencing of MAIT cells compared to non-MAIT CD8+ T cells to define the steady-state transcriptome of MAIT cells in the human lung. In addition, we identify genes similarly upregulated in MAIT cells from lung tissue and PBMC compared to the corresponding non-MAIT CD8+ cells that are reflected in a core MAIT gene signature.