TL1A Enhances the Activation of MAIT Cells Suboptimally Stimulated with IL-12 and IL-18
CD8+ T cells were enriched from healthy peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and stimulated overnight with different combinations of cytokines: IL-12 at 2 ng/mL, IL-18 at 50 ng/mL, IL-15 at 25 ng/mL, and TL1A from 0.01 to 100 ng/mL as indicated.
(A–C) Proportions of CD8+ MAIT/CD161+ or CD161− cells producing IFN-γ (A), TNF-α (B), or CD69 (C) following overnight stimulation with suboptimal concentrations of IL-12 and IL-18, plus varying concentrations of TL1A.
(D) Representative histograms showing the expression of IFN-γ, TNF-α, GrB, and CD69 by MAIT cells after stimulation with different combinations of cytokines.
(E–H) Frequency of MAIT cells expressing IFN-γ (E), TNF-α (F), GrB (G), and CD69 (H) upon stimulation with the indicated cytokines.
Data were acquired from seven donors in 2–3 experiments. Error bars represent means ± SEM. Differences among conditions were analyzed by Friedman tests with Dunn’s multiple comparison tests. ∗p < 0.05, ∗∗p < 0.01, ∗∗∗p < 0.001, ∗∗∗∗p < 0.0001.
See also Figure S1.