New Insights into Asthma Inflammation: Focus on iNKT, MAIT, and γδT Cells

Abstract

Asthma is a chronic immunological disease affecting all age groups, but often starting in childhood. Although it has long been ascribed to a single pathology, recent studies have highlighted its heterogeneity due to the potential involvement of various pathogenic mechanisms. Here, we present our current understanding of the role of innate-like T (ILT) cells in asthma pathogenesis. These cells constitute a specific family mainly comprising γδT, invariant natural killer (iNKT) and mucosal-associated invariant (MAIT) T cells. They all share the ability to massively secrete a wide range of cytokines in a T-cell receptor (TCR)-dependent or -independent manner. ILT cells are prevalent in mucosal tissues, including airways, where their innate and adaptive immune functions consist primarily in protecting tissue integrity. However, ILT cells may also have detrimental effects leading to asthma symptoms. The immune mechanisms through which this pathogenic effect occurs will be discussed in this overview.

Keywords: Asthma; CD1d; Children; MAIT cells; MR1; Patients; iNKT cells; γδT cells.