MR1, drugs and rock and roll (#36)
Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells, an abundant population of innate-like T cells in humans, express a T cell antigen receptor (TCR) that is restricted to the monomorphic Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC)-related class I-related molecule, MR1. MR1 presents vitamin B precursors that encompass activating and non-activating ligands derived from riboflavin and folic acid, respectively. Whether MR1 can present other ligands that modulate MAIT cell activity, or whether there are different modes of TCR recognition of MR1-Ag are unknown. My presentation will discuss both of these aspects, revealing that the MR1 ligand universe, and MAIT TCR-MR1 docking strategies is greater than previously appreciated.