Evaluation of Mucosal Associated Invariant T-Cells (MAIT) in Childhood Asthma

Bronchial asthma is a worldwide problem. It is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by airway hyperresponsiveness and obstruction. Various immune cells are involved in asthma development, severity and response to treatment. Mucosal Associated Invariant T- cells (MAIT) cells have been suggested to be involved in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma. We aimed at assessing activated MAIT cells in children with asthma and evaluating their role in disease pathogenesis, severity, and control. Methods: A case-control study included 15 bronchial asthma and 10 apparently healthy, age and sex-matched children as controls. All participants were subjected to complete blood count (CBC) and peripheral blood smears examination to assess eosinophilia, serum total IgE levels, and immunophenotypic analysis for peripheral blood mononuclear cells to assess the frequency of circulating MAIT cells (CD3+ CD161high Vα7.2+) and using monoclonal anti-human CD69 as an activation marker for MAIT cells. Results: MAIT cells were significantly less in asthmatic group compared to healthy control group. Activated (CD69+) MAIT cells at 3.8% were found to be a good predictor of childhood asthma with 73.3% sensitivity, 60% specificity and 68% accuracy. Activated MAIT cells were detected in 46.7% of cases, they were significantly higher in the fair controlled group, while the inactivated (CD69-) MAIT cells were significantly higher in cases with good and poor asthma control (P