Mucosal-associated invariant T cells recognize a tumor-derived metabolite in the DNA synthesis pathway - Takeaways - MDSpire

Mucosal-associated invariant T cells recognize a tumor-derived metabolite in the DNA synthesis pathway

  • By

  • Yanqi Xue

  • Yuka Yamada

  • Rikako Suzuki

  • Brenda Luong

  • Shotaro Fujii

  • Keisuke Nakata

  • Masatomo Takahashi

  • Yoshihiro Izumi

  • Chihiro Fukui

  • Ryosuke Takasaki

  • Francois Legoux

  • Shinsuke Inuki

  • Daisuke Motooka

  • Emi Ito

  • Bridget L. Stocker

  • Mattie S. M. Timmer

  • Takashi Shimizu

  • Yasumasa Matsuoka

  • Jun’ichi Mano

  • Koji Tamada

  • Makoto Furutani-Seiki

  • Kei Sakamoto

  • Koh-Hei Sonoda

  • Olivier Lantz

  • Sho Yamasaki

  • Kensuke Shibata

  • June 24, 2026

  • 0 min

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  • 1

    Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells can recognize the tumor-derived metabolite 5-formyl tetrahydrofolate (5-formyl THF) as a ligand.

  • 2

    5-formyl THF induces T cell receptor (TCR)-dependent activation of mouse MAIT cells, though its activity is weaker than the potent agonist 5-OP-RU.

  • 3

    Amino methyltransferase (Amt) is essential for generating 5-formyl THF in tumor cells and influences the activation of MAIT cells.

  • 4

    The introduction of mouse MAIT TCRs to primary T cells from MAIT cell-deficient mice conferred reactivity to 5-formyl THF.

  • 5

    A human MAIT cell clonotype reactive to 5-formyl THF was identified using single-cell TCR sequencing analysis.

Original Source(s)

Mucosal-associated invariant T cells recognize a tumor-derived metabolite in the DNA synthesis pathway

  • by Yanqi Xue, Yuka Yamada, Rikako Suzuki, Brenda Luong, Shotaro Fujii, Keisuke Nakata, Masatomo Takahashi, Yoshihiro Izumi, Chihiro Fukui, Ryosuke Takasaki, Francois Legoux, Shinsuke Inuki, Daisuke Motooka, Emi Ito, Bridget L. Stocker, Mattie S. M. Timmer, Takashi Shimizu, Yasumasa Matsuoka, Jun’ichi Mano, Koji Tamada, Makoto Furutani-Seiki, Kei Sakamoto, Koh-Hei Sonoda, Olivier Lantz, Sho Yamasaki, Kensuke Shibata

  • June 24, 2026

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