Cytotoxic and regulatory roles of mucosal-associated invariant T cells in type 1 diabetes

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease that results from the destruction of pancreatic β-cells by the immune system that involves innate and adaptive immune cells. Mucosal-associated invariant T cells (MAIT cells) are innate-like T-cells that recognize derivatives of precursors of bacterial riboflavin presented by the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I–related molecule MR1. Since T1D is associated with modification of the gut microbiota, we investigated MAIT cells in this pathology. In patients with T1D and mice of the non-obese diabetic (NOD) strain, we detected alterations in MAIT cells, including increased production of granzyme B, which occurred before the onset of diabetes. Analysis of NOD mice that were deficient in MR1, and therefore lacked MAIT cells, revealed a loss of gut integrity and increased anti-islet responses associated with exacerbated diabetes. Together our data highlight the role of MAIT cells in the maintenance of gut integrity and the control of anti-islet autoimmune responses. Monitoring of MAIT cells might represent a new biomarker of T1D, while manipulation of these cells might open new therapeutic strategies

Mucosal Associated Invariant T (MAIT) cells induce inflammation, gut dysbiosis, and type 2 diabetes during obesity

Le surpoids et l’obésité touchent plus de 1,9 milliard d’adultes à travers le monde et pourraient atteindre 3,3 milliards de personnes dans une dizaine d’année. L’obésité est associée à une inflammation tissulaire et systémique chronique de bas grade, qui contribuent à l’apparition de la résistance à l’insuline. Récemment, notre laboratoire a mis en évidence des anomalies d’une nouvelle population de lymphocytes T innés, les cellules MAIT (Mucosal Associated Invariant T) chez des patients obèses et/ou ayant un diabète de type 2 (T2D). Les cellules MAIT sont des lymphocytes T non conventionnels, qui expriment un récepteur des cellules T (TCR) avec une chaîne alpha invariante. Leur TCR reconnait la molécule d’histocompatibilité de classe 1 non classique MR1, présentant des métabolites dérivés de la voie de biosynthèse des vitamines B, notamment les vitamines B2 et B9. Dans cette étude, nous utilisons les modèles murins pour analyser le rôle des cellules MAIT dans le developpement du T2D. Au cours de l’obésité induite par un régime riche en graisse, les cellules MAIT du tissu adipeux viscéral (TA) et de l’iléon sont activées de façon précoce et anormale et produisent plus de cytokines pro-inflammatoires (i.e. IL-17, TNFa et l’IFN?). De plus, l’augmentation de la fréquence tissulaire des MAIT chez des souris Va19 transgéniques conduit à l’apparition de la résistance à l’insuline et à une intolérance au glucose, au cours de l’obésité. A l’inverse, les souris obèses déficientes en MAIT, MR1-/-, sont protégées contre ces anomalies métaboliques. Une fréquence élevée de MAIT est associée au changement de macrophages M2 (anti-inflammatoires) en M1 (inflammatoires) et à une infiltration des cellules NK et des LTaß-CD8 au niveau du TA. Par ailleurs, les MAIT contrôlent la fréquence des Treg, ILC2 et ILC3 dans l’iléon et des Treg, ILC2 et éosinophiles dans le tissu adipeux. La modification de la fréquence des ILC2 et ILC3 est associée à la production intestinale d’IL-33 et d’IL-25. De plus, nous montrons que le rôle délétère des MAIT dans le développement du T2D est associé à une dysbiose intestinale. Finalement, des expériences de transfert de flores intestinales montrent que cette dysbiose intestinale est en partie responsable des anomalies immunitaires et métaboliques.Obesity and type 2 diabetes are associated with low-grade chronic inflammation. Immune cells are recruited and activated in several tissues, including adipose tissue, thereby contributing to insulin-resistance and diabetes. Recent studies described gut microbiota dysbiosis as a consequence as well as a driver of obesity and type 2 diabetes. Mucosaassociated invariant T cells (MAIT) are innate-like T cells expressing a semi-invariant T-cell receptor restricted by the non-classical MHC class I molecule MR1 presenting bacterial ligands. In obese/T2D patients MAIT cells in blood and adipose tissue exhibit a pro-inflammatory profile. In the present study, we show that during high fat diet-induced obesity MAIT cells produce inflammatory cytokines in adipose tissue and the ileum and induce inflammation in these tissues by modifying other immune cell populations (i.e. macrophages, CD8 Taß cells, NK cells, LTreg, eosinophils and ILC2 in the adipose tissue and ILC2, ILC3 and LTreg in the ileum). These changes impair the function of both tissues leading to insulin resistance, glucose intolerance, impaired lipid metabolism and increased gut permeability. MAIT cells also impact gut microbiota dysbiosis during obesity and microbiota transfer experiments highlight a bidirectional crosstalk between MAIT cells and the gut microbiota leading to inflammation and gut leakage. Altogether these results reveal the major role of MAIT cells in promoting the development of type 2 diabetes during obesity

Les lymphocytes MAIT induisent l'inflammation, la dysbiose et le diabète de type 2 au cours de l'obésité

Obesity and type 2 diabetes are associated with low-grade chronic inflammation. Immune cells are recruited and activated in several tissues, including adipose tissue, thereby contributing to insulin-resistance and diabetes. Recent studies described gut microbiota dysbiosis as a consequence as well as a driver of obesity and type 2 diabetes. Mucosaassociated invariant T cells (MAIT) are innate-like T cells expressing a semi-invariant T-cell receptor restricted by the non-classical MHC class I molecule MR1 presenting bacterial ligands. In obese/T2D patients MAIT cells in blood and adipose tissue exhibit a pro-inflammatory profile. In the present study, we show that during high fat diet-induced obesity MAIT cells produce inflammatory cytokines in adipose tissue and the ileum and induce inflammation in these tissues by modifying other immune cell populations (i.e. macrophages, CD8 Taß cells, NK cells, LTreg, eosinophils and ILC2 in the adipose tissue and ILC2, ILC3 and LTreg in the ileum). These changes impair the function of both tissues leading to insulin resistance, glucose intolerance, impaired lipid metabolism and increased gut permeability. MAIT cells also impact gut microbiota dysbiosis during obesity and microbiota transfer experiments highlight a bidirectional crosstalk between MAIT cells and the gut microbiota leading to inflammation and gut leakage. Altogether these results reveal the major role of MAIT cells in promoting the development of type 2 diabetes during obesity.Le surpoids et l’obésité touchent plus de 1,9 milliard d’adultes à travers le monde et pourraient atteindre 3,3 milliards de personnes dans une dizaine d’année. L’obésité est associée à une inflammation tissulaire et systémique chronique de bas grade, qui contribuent à l’apparition de la résistance à l’insuline. Récemment, notre laboratoire a mis en évidence des anomalies d’une nouvelle population de lymphocytes T innés, les cellules MAIT (Mucosal Associated Invariant T) chez des patients obèses et/ou ayant un diabète de type 2 (T2D). Les cellules MAIT sont des lymphocytes T non conventionnels, qui expriment un récepteur des cellules T (TCR) avec une chaîne alpha invariante. Leur TCR reconnait la molécule d’histocompatibilité de classe 1 non classique MR1, présentant des métabolites dérivés de la voie de biosynthèse des vitamines B, notamment les vitamines B2 et B9. Dans cette étude, nous utilisons les modèles murins pour analyser le rôle des cellules MAIT dans le developpement du T2D. Au cours de l’obésité induite par un régime riche en graisse, les cellules MAIT du tissu adipeux viscéral (TA) et de l’iléon sont activées de façon précoce et anormale et produisent plus de cytokines pro-inflammatoires (i.e. IL-17, TNFa et l’IFN?). De plus, l’augmentation de la fréquence tissulaire des MAIT chez des souris Va19 transgéniques conduit à l’apparition de la résistance à l’insuline et à une intolérance au glucose, au cours de l’obésité. A l’inverse, les souris obèses déficientes en MAIT, MR1-/-, sont protégées contre ces anomalies métaboliques. Une fréquence élevée de MAIT est associée au changement de macrophages M2 (anti-inflammatoires) en M1 (inflammatoires) et à une infiltration des cellules NK et des LTaß-CD8 au niveau du TA. Par ailleurs, les MAIT contrôlent la fréquence des Treg, ILC2 et ILC3 dans l’iléon et des Treg, ILC2 et éosinophiles dans le tissu adipeux. La modification de la fréquence des ILC2 et ILC3 est associée à la production intestinale d’IL-33 et d’IL-25. De plus, nous montrons que le rôle délétère des MAIT dans le développement du T2D est associé à une dysbiose intestinale. Finalement, des expériences de transfert de flores intestinales montrent que cette dysbiose intestinale est en partie responsable des anomalies immunitaires et métaboliques

iNKT and MAIT cell alterations in diabetes

International audienceType 1 diabetes (T1D) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) are multifactorial diseases with different etiologies in which chronic inflammation takes place. Defects in invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cell populations have been reported in both T1D and T2D patients, mouse models and our recent study revealed mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cell defects in T2D and obese patients. Regarding iNKT cells many studies in non-obese diabetic mice demonstrated their protective role against T1D whereas their potential role in human T1D is still under debate. Studies in mouse models and patients suggest that iNKT cells present in adipose tissue (AT) could exert a regulatory role against obesity and associated metabolic disorders, such as T2D. Scarce data are yet available on MAIT cells; however, we recently described MAIT cell abnormalities in the blood and ATs from obese and T2D patients. These data show that a link between MAIT cells and metabolic disorders pave the way for further investigations on MAIT cells in T1D and T2D in humans and mouse models. Furthermore, we hypothesize that the gut microbiota alterations associated with T1D and T2D could modulate iNKT and MAIT cell frequency and functions. The potential role of iNKT and MAIT cells in the regulation of metabolic pathways and their cross-talk with microbiota represent exciting new lines of research

Genome-scale in vivo CRISPR screen identifies RNLS as a target for beta cell protection in type 1 diabetes

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is caused by the autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta cells. Pluripotent stem cells can now be differentiated into beta cells, thus raising the prospect of a cell replacement therapy for T1D. However, autoimmunity would rapidly destroy newly transplanted beta cells. Using a genome-scale CRISPR screen in a mouse model for T1D, we show that deleting RNLS, a genome-wide association study candidate gene for T1D, made beta cells resistant to autoimmune killing. Structure-based modelling identified the U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved drug pargyline as a potential RNLS inhibitor. Oral pargyline treatment protected transplanted beta cells in diabetic mice, thus leading to disease reversal. Furthermore, pargyline prevented or delayed diabetes onset in several mouse models for T1D. Our results identify RNLS as a modifier of beta cell vulnerability and as a potential therapeutic target to avert beta cell loss in T1D

Mucosal-associated invariant T cells promote inflammation and intestinal dysbiosis leading to metabolic dysfunction during obesity

International audienceObesity is associated with low-grade chronic inflammation promoting insulin-resistance and diabetes. Gut microbiota dysbiosis is a consequence as well as a driver of obesity and diabetes. Mucosal-associated invariant T cells (MAIT) are innate-like T cells expressing a semi-invariant T cell receptor restricted to the non-classical MHC class I molecule MR1 presenting bacterial ligands. Here we show that during obesity MAIT cells promote inflammation in both adipose tissue and ileum, leading to insulin resistance and impaired glucose and lipid metabolism. MAIT cells act in adipose tissue by inducing M1 macrophage polarization in an MR1-dependent manner and in the gut by inducing microbiota dysbiosis and loss of gut integrity. Both MAIT cell-induced tissue alterations contribute to metabolic dysfunction. Treatment with MAIT cell inhibitory ligand demonstrates its potential as a strategy against inflammation, dysbiosis and metabolic disorders

Mucosal-associated invariant T cells are a profibrogenic immune cell population in the liver

International audienceLiver fibrosis is the common response to chronic liver injury, and leads to cirrhosis and its complications. Persistent inflammation is a driving force of liver fibrosis progression. Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are non-conventional T cells that display altered functions during chronic inflammatory diseases. Here, we show that circulating MAIT cells are reduced in patients with alcoholic or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease-related cirrhosis while they accumulate in liver fibrotic septa. Using two models of chronic liver injury, we demonstrate that MAIT cell-enriched mice show increased liver fibrosis and accumulation of hepatic fibrogenic cells, whereas MAIT cell-deficient mice are resistant. Co-culture experiments indicate that MAIT cells enhance the proinflammatory properties of monocyte-derived macrophages, and promote mitogenic and proinflammatory functions of fibrogenic cells, via distinct mechanisms. Our results highlight the profibrogenic functions of MAIT cells and suggest that targeting MAIT cells may constitute an attractive antifibrogenic strategy during chronic liver injury

Mucosal-associated invariant T cell alterations in obese and type 2 diabetic patients

Obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D) are associated with low-grade inflammation, activation of immune cells, and alterations of the gut microbiota. Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells, which are innate-like T cells that recognize bacterial ligands, are present in blood and enriched in mucosal and inflamed tissues. Here, we analyzed MAIT cells in the blood and adipose tissues of patients with T2D and/or severe obesity. We determined that circulating MAIT cell frequency was dramatically decreased in both patient groups, and this population was even undetectable in some obese patients. Moreover, in both patient groups, circulating MAIT cells displayed an activated phenotype that was associated with elevated Th1 and Th17 cytokine production. In obese patients, MAIT cells were more abundant in adipose tissue than in the blood and exhibited a striking IL-17 profile. Bariatric surgery in obese patients not only improved their metabolic parameters but also increased circulating MAIT cell frequency at 3 months after surgery. Similarly, cytokine production by blood MAIT cells was strongly decreased after surgery. This study reveals profound MAIT cell abnormalities in patients harboring metabolic disorders, suggesting their potential role in these pathologies