MAIT cells in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE)

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common inflammatory disease of the central nervous system (CNS) most likely caused by autoreactive T cells. Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are characterized by a semi-invariant T cell receptor (TCR) with which they recognize 5-(2-oxopropylideneamino)-6-D-ribitylaminouracil (5-OP-RU), a metabolite of the riboflavin (vitamin B2) pathway only present in yeast and bacteria. MAIT cells have been detected in inflamed brain lesions of MS patients. However, functional analyses of CNS-infiltrating MAIT cells are lacking and require a characterisation in the MS animal model experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE).