MR1 presentation of vitamin B-based metabolite ligands.

MR1 presentation of vitamin B-based metabolite ligands. Curr Opin Immunol. 2015 Jan 17;34C:28-34 Authors: McWilliam HE, Birkinshaw RW, Villadangos JA, McCluskey J, Rossjohn J Abstract The major histocompatibility complex class I-related molecule MR1 can bind a novel class of antigens, namely a family of related small organic vitamin B metabolites. When bound to MR1 these metabolites are presented to a population of innate-like T cells, mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells that express a semi-invariant T cell receptor (TCR). Several non-activating and activating MR1-restricted ligands have been described, which are the degradation products of, or intermediates of, vitamin B9 (folic acid) or vitamin B2 (riboflavin), respectively. The MAIT-activating intermediates of the riboflavin synthesis pathway are unique to a wide range of microbes, and accordingly represent a molecular signature of microbial infection. Recently insights into the binding of these vitamin B metabolites to MR1, and subsequent recognition by the MAIT TCR, have been gleaned, illustrating a novel antigen presentation system. PMID: 25603223 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Current Opinion in Immunology - Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Tags: Curr Opin Immunol Source Type: research