Measles Virus Infects and Programs MAIT Cells for Apoptosis. (5th July 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rudak, Patrick T; Yao, Tony; Richardson, Christopher D; Haeryfar, S M Mansour
• Is Part Of: Journal of infectious diseases. Volume 223:Number 4(2021)
• Page Start: 667
• Page End: 672
• Publication Date: 2020-07-05
• Subjects: measles -- MAIT cells -- iNKT cells -- immune amnesia -- immunosuppression -- secondary infections -- CD150 -- cell death -- apoptosis -- vaccination; Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; Diseases -- Causes and theories of causation -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Communicable Diseases -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.9
• DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiaa407
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-1899

Abstract

Abstract: Measles virus (MeV) binds, infects, and kills CD150 + memory T cells, leading to immune amnesia. Whether MeV targets innate, memory-like T cells is unknown. We demonstrate that human peripheral blood and hepatic mucosa-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells and invariant natural killer T cells express surprisingly high levels of CD150, more than other lymphocyte subsets. Furthermore, exposing MAIT cells to MeV results in their efficient infection and rapid apoptosis. This constitutes the first report of direct MAIT cell infection by a viral pathogen. Given MAIT cells' antimicrobial properties, their elimination by MeV may contribute to measles-induced immunosuppression and heightened vulnerability to unrelated infections.