This volume focuses on various methods used by researchers to study mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells in the aspects described below. The chapters are organized into Four Parts: part One looks at the function and importance of MAIT cells in health and disease. It covers methods to isolate and characterize MAIT cells from human tissues including liver, colon tumors, placenta and decidua, and endometrium. Part Two discusses MR1 independent stimulation, and looks at the activation of MAIT cells by different stimulatory agents. Part Three describes various methods to develop tools to analyze, monitor, and generate MAIT cells in vitro, including the production of MR1-tetramers and how they can be loaded with bacterial antigens and used for the detection of MAIT cells. The last part covers the use of murine models to study MAIT cells. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls.

Authoritative and comprehensive, MAIT Cells: Methods and Protocols is a valuable resource for anyone interested in learning more about this developing field.

Chapters 9 and 17 are open access under a CC BY 4.0 license.

Includes cutting-edge methods and protocols Provides step-by-step detail essential for reproducible results Contains key notes and implementation advice from the experts

Inhalt
MAIT Cells in Health and Disease.- Isolation and Characterization of MAIT Cells from Human Tissue Biopsies.- Isolation and Characterization of MAIT Cells from Tumor Tissues.- Isolation of Immune Cells from Placental Tissues and Phenotypic and Functional Analysis of MAIT Cells.- Methods for High-Dimensional Flow Cytometry Analysis of Human MAIT Cells in Tissues and Peripheral Blood.- In Situ Detection of MAIT Cells and MR1 Expressing Cells in Tissue Biopsies Utilizing Immunohistochemistry.- Human MAIT Cell Activation In Vitro.- Interactions between MAIT Cells and Dendritic Cells.- Influenza A Virus-Infected Lung Epithelial Cell Co-Culture with Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells.- Quantification of Human MAIT Cell-Mediated Cellular Cytotoxicity and Antimicrobial Activity.- MAIT Cell Activation by Fungal Pathogens.- A Flow Chamber Assay for Studying MAIT Cell Trafficking.- Production of MR1 Tetramers Loaded with Microbial Ligands.- Immune Monitoring of Human Mucosal Associated Invariant T Cells by Quantitative Proteomics.- Generation of MR1-Restricted T Cell Clones by Limiting Dilution Cloning of MR1 Tetramer+ Cells.- Reprogramming of MAIT Cells to Pluripotency and Redifferentiation.- Study of MAIT Cell Activation in Viral Infections In Vivo.- MAIT Cells in Type 1 Diabetes Mouse Models.- Magnetic-Bead Based Enrichment of Murine MAIT Cells.