Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40025566›Full record

ReviewJournal of biomedical science2025

Biological functions and therapeutic applications of human mucosal-associated invariant T cells.

Ying Fang, Yuning Chen, Siyue Niu, Zibai Lyu, Yanxin Tian, Xinyuan Shen, Yan-Ruide Li, Lili Yang

Abstract readReview
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in Journal of biomedical science, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 15 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
15citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

15 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Avoidance of MAIT cells is an essential determinant ofProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America · 2026
    Article
  5. Review
  6. Article
  7. Review
  8. Review
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  10. Review
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  12. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Ying Fang *Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
Yuning Chen *Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
Siyue NiuDepartment of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
Zibai LyuDepartment of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
Yanxin TianDepartment of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
Xinyuan ShenDepartment of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
Yan-Ruide LiDepartment of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA. charlie.li@ucla.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9858-300X
Lili YangDepartment of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA. liliyang@ucla.edu.

Funding

University of California, Los Angeles Ablon Scholars AwardUniversity of California, Los Angeles CIRM-BSCRC Postdoctoral FellowshipUniversity of California, Los Angeles PICIUniversity of California, Los Angeles UCLA BSCRC Innovation AwardUniversity of California, Los Angeles UCLA MIMG M. John Pickett Post-Doctoral Fellow AwardUniversity of California, Los Angeles UCLA Sydney Finegold Postdoctoral Award
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are a unique subset of innate-like T lymphocytes that bridge innate and adaptive immunity. Characterized by their semi-invariant T cell receptor (TCR) and abundant localization in mucosal tissues, MAIT cells recognize microbial metabolites, primarily derived from the riboflavin biosynthesis pathway, presented by the major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-related protein 1 (MR1). This interaction, along with co-stimulatory signals, triggers rapid immune responses, including cytokine secretion and cytotoxic activity, highlighting their importance in maintaining immune homeostasis and combating infections. This review provides an in-depth overview of MAIT cell biology, including development, activation pathways, and functional diversity, highlighting their protective roles in immunity, contributions to diseases like cancer and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and context-dependent dual functions in health and pathology. This review also highlights the emerging therapeutic potential of MAIT cells in immunotherapy. Their unique TCR specificity, abundance, and tissue-homing properties make them ideal candidates for engineering novel therapies, such as chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-MAIT cells, targeting infections, cancers, and autoimmune diseases. Challenges like antigen escape, T cell exhaustion, and CAR design optimization must be addressed to enhance clinical efficacy. In summary, MAIT cells are integral to immune function, and their therapeutic potential presents exciting opportunities for the treatment of a wide range of diseases. Further research is essential to unlock the full potential of these versatile immune cells.

Indexed as

ImmunotherapyMucosal-Associated Invariant T CellsHumansInflammatory Bowel DiseasesNeoplasmsAllogeneic CAR-T cellsCancerCAR-T cell therapyImmune surveillanceInnate-like lymphocytesMAIT cellsMetabolitesMicrobiotaMR1Tissue-specific adaptationsUnconventional T cells

Identifiers

PMID40025566
PMCPMC11871619

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.