RNA-seq expression profiling of humain MAIT cells in blood and liver as compared to mainstream TCD4+ and TCD8+ cells.

At variance with what is observed in mice, no distinct MAIT1 or MAIT17 subsets exist in human blood, as all MAIT cells express a variety of transcription factors such as Rorgt, Tbet, Eomes and Helios. However, they are also found in tissues in which they have specific effector functions. To determine these tissue programs, we analyzed the transcription pattern of MAIT cells as compared to mainstream memory (CD45RA-CD27+) CD4+ and CD8+ T cells from human blood and liver. The paired samples of blood and liver cells were obtained from patients operated for metastatic uveal melanoma (liver samples from a “healthy” liver fragment), and from the blood of healthy controls.