Figure 3.

A TME-infiltrating and exhausted MAIT cell under various possible stimuli. The MAIT TCR is engaged by an unknown antigen from the TME, and other receptors are bound by unknown TME factors (possibly cytokines, inhibitory ligands, or other metabolites). Factors are potentially released by cells present in the TME such as tumor cells, fibroblasts, endothelial cells, or other immune cells. Effects from TME stimuli include upregulation of molecules PD-1, CD39, CTLA4, and TIM3, and well as release of cytokines IL-13, CXCL13, IL-17 and IL-8, with decreases in secretion of TNF-α, IFN-γ, GZMB, and perforin. The size of the text reflects the relative secretion of each molecule, whereas bigger text indicates more secretion and smaller text is less secretion.