Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 25, 2026

Characterization of Thymic Settling Progenitors in the Mouse Embryo Using In Vivo and In Vitro Assays
08:56

Characterization of Thymic Settling Progenitors in the Mouse Embryo Using In Vivo and In Vitro Assays

Published on: June 9, 2015

7.9K

MAIT cells egress the thymus at several maturation stages with selective capacity to seed different tissues

Rafael Almeida Paiva1, Hugues Brière1, Anne-Laure Le Gac1

  • 1Institut Curie, PSL University, Inserm U932, Immunity and Cancer, Paris, France.

Immunity
|April 23, 2026
PubMed

Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) and invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells participate in tissue homeostasis and repair and in defense against pathogens. While MAIT and iNKT cells share a developmental pathway leading to the expression of effector-memory and tissue-residency programs, differences in subset proportions and tissue distribution suggest lineage-specific developmental mechanisms. We show that thymic epithelial cells contribute to MAIT but not to iNKT cell selection, which relies solely on double-positive thymocytes. Nonetheless, MAIT and iNKT cells had similar developmental kinetics and thymic residency properties. MAIT cells egressed the thymus at several developmental stages and colonized specific tissues. Semi-mature cells seeded the intestine via chemokine receptor CCR9. Thymic output during adulthood contributed to tissue MAIT and iNKT cell homeostasis. Lastly, MAIT ligands produced during colitis induced thymic MAIT17 cell expansion and migration to the colon, which suggests a feedback loop that boosts the production of MAIT cells capable of re-establishing epithelial integrity.

Keywords:
MAIT cellsT cell developmentcolitisiNKT cellsinnate-like T cellsinvariant natural killer T cellsmucosal tissuesmucosal-associated invariant T cellsthymus egresstissue seeding

More Related Videos

Preparation of Single-Cell Suspension of Mouse Thymic Epithelial Cells and Staining of Intracellular Molecules for Flow Cytometric AnalysisMechanisms09:41

Preparation of Single-Cell Suspension of Mouse Thymic Epithelial Cells and Staining of Intracellular Molecules for Flow Cytometric AnalysisMechanisms

Published on: July 26, 2024

1.6K
Preparation and Applications of Organotypic Thymic Slice Cultures10:10

Preparation and Applications of Organotypic Thymic Slice Cultures

Published on: August 6, 2016

8.0K

Related Concept Videos

Primary Lymphoid Organs01:16

Primary Lymphoid Organs

Primary lymphoid organs are pivotal in the formation, development, and maturation of lymphocytes, the white blood cells that serve as the backbone of our immune system. This crucial function underscores their fundamental role in maintaining our overall health and immunity. The two primary lymphoid organs of prime importance are the red bone marrow and the thymus.
The red bone marrow is a soft, spongy tissue nestled in the interior of long bones such as the humerus and femur. It is the site...
9.5K
Cells of the Adaptive Immune Response01:23

Cells of the Adaptive Immune Response

The T and B lymphocytes of the adaptive immune system develop from common lymphoid progenitor cells in the bone marrow. These progenitors give rise to precursors that eventually develop into both T and B lymphocytes. As these precursors mature, they gain the ability to detect and respond to foreign antigens in the body, a process known as immunocompetence. Additionally, these precursors acquire self-tolerance, a process that ensures they do not react to self-antigens. This intricate system...
6.8K
Differentiation of Common Myeloid Progenitor Cells01:15

Differentiation of Common Myeloid Progenitor Cells

Common myeloid progenitors (CMPs) are oligopotent cells that can differentiate into granulocytes and macrophages. Granulocytes and macrophages are essential for protecting the body against bacterial, viral, or fungal infections. They migrate from the bone marrow into the circulating blood to reach specific tissue sites where they differentiate and help in immune surveillance. However, they survive only for a few days and must be continuously made available to the organism to maintain a robust...
3.1K
T Cell Activation and Clonal Selection01:22

T Cell Activation and Clonal Selection

T cells are integral to our adaptive immune system, recognizing and effectively responding to foreign antigens. T cell activation and clonal selection are pivotal in orchestrating this immune response. This article elucidates these mechanisms, detailing the roles of cluster of differentiation (CD) markers, major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules, costimulatory signals, and the process of clonal selection.
Naive T cells that have not yet encountered an antigen express two primary CD...
13.6K
Development of Immunocompetence01:22

Development of Immunocompetence

The initiation of cell-mediated immunity can be observed as early as the third month of fetal growth, with active antibody-mediated immunity following approximately one month later.
The initial cells that migrate from the fetal thymus settle within the skin and epithelial tissues lining the mouth, digestive tract, and in females, the uterus and vagina. These cells, including skin-based dendritic cells, serve as antigen-presenting cells, playing a key role in T cell activation.
Subsequent T...
1.2K
T Cell Types and Functions01:24

T Cell Types and Functions

When T cells with CD4 markers are activated, they give rise to two types of effector cells: helper T cells and regulatory T cells. Meanwhile, T cells with CD8 markers differentiate into effector cytotoxic T cells. The differentiation of CD4 T cells into helper T cell subsets, such as Th1, Th2, and Th17 cells, is dependent on the antigen type, antigen-presenting cell, and regulatory cytokines.
Th1 cells stimulate dendritic cells to express necessary co-stimulatory molecules on their surfaces for...
3.2K