Circulating mucosa-associated invariant T cells are decreased and have impaired function in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

Jingru Liu; Jiadi Chen; Shucheng Chen; Yanrong Huang; Kaiming Xu; Danni Cai; Xinai Liao; Ruolan You; Xiaolin Xu; Xiaoting Wang; Diyu Hou; Shuxia Zhang; Fuwen Yang; Huifang Huang

doi:10.1016/j.tranon.2025.102461

Circulating mucosa-associated invariant T cells are decreased and have impaired function in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

Transl Oncol. 2025 Jun 27:59:102461. doi: 10.1016/j.tranon.2025.102461. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Jingru Liu¹, Jiadi Chen², Shucheng Chen³, Yanrong Huang³, Kaiming Xu¹, Danni Cai¹, Xinai Liao¹, Ruolan You¹, Xiaolin Xu¹, Xiaoting Wang¹, Diyu Hou¹, Shuxia Zhang⁴, Fuwen Yang⁵, Huifang Huang⁶

Affiliations

¹ Central Laboratory, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China.
² Department of Clinical Laboratory, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China.
³ Central Laboratory, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China; School of Medical Technology and Engineering, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China.
⁴ Fujian Institute of Hematology, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory on Hematology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China.
⁵ Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, The 900th Hospital of the People's Liberation Army Joint Service Support Force, Fuzhou, China. Electronic address: puwenyang@163.com.
⁶ Central Laboratory, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China. Electronic address: huanghuif@fjmu.edu.cn.

PMID: 40580872
DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2025.102461

Abstract

Mucosa-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are associated with tumor immunity. However, their role in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to elucidate frequency and functional characteristics of circulating MAIT cells in DLBCL patients. The findings revealed a significant reduction in the frequency of circulating MAIT cells in DLBCL patients compared to age-matched healthy controls. Moreover, circulating MAIT cells from DLBCL patients exhibited proapoptotic and senescent phenotypes and demonstrated dysfunction, as evidenced by elevated expression of activation and exhaustion markers, including CD69, CD25, HLA-DR, PD-1, and Tim-3. MAIT cells derived from DLBCL produced lower levels of crucial anti-tumor cytokines, such as interferon-gamma, interleukin-17, tumor necrosis factor-α and granzyme B, suggesting impaired anti-tumor immunity. Additionally, MAIT cells from DLBCL patients showed diminished cytotoxicity against DLBCL cells compared to those from healthy donors. Notably, a lower frequency of circulating MAIT cells in patients with DLBCL was associated with poor prognosis. In summary, this study reveals reduced and impaired circulating MAIT cells in DLBCL patients, suggesting their importance in anti-lymphoma immunity.

Keywords: Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma; Dysfunction; Mucosa-associated invariant T cells; Prognosis.