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Updated: Jan 24, 2026

Reaggregate Thymus Cultures
Published on: August 28, 2008
MAIT cells: programmed in the thymus to mediate immunity within tissues
Olivier Lantz1, François Legoux2
1Inserm U932, PSL University, Institut Curie, Paris, 75005, France; Laboratoire d'immunologie clinique, Institut Curie, Paris, 75005, France; Centre d'investigation Clinique en Biothérapie Gustave-Roussy Institut Curie (CIC-BT1428), Paris, 75005, France.
MAIT cells are an evolutionarily conserved T cell subset recognizing ubiquitous microbial metabolites. Herein, we review recent literature showing that MAIT cells can be divided into type 1 and type 17 subsets, which acquire a tissue resident differentiation program in the thymus and localize in specific tissues. We also discuss the nature and in vivo availability of the different agonist and antagonist MAIT ligands with potential consequences for MAIT cell biology.
MAIT cells are an evolutionarily conserved T cell subset recognizing ubiquitous microbial metabolites. Herein, we review recent literature showing that MAIT cells can be divided into type 1 and type 17 subsets, which acquire a tissue resident differentiation program in the thymus and localize in specific tissues. We also discuss the nature and in vivo availability of the different agonist and antagonist MAIT ligands with potential consequences for MAIT cell biology.
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