Comprehension of MAIT cell functions during COVID-19 – COMAIT-19

Dysregulated host immune response to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in the lung can lead to life-threatening acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The molecular and cellular host factors implicated in this uncontrolled inflammatory response recently emerged. However, how these factors are regulated once patients improve are yet to be defined. In a recent study, we suggested that MAIT cells could play relevant functions in the pathophysiology of severe COVID-19. By the prism of MAIT cells, our COMAIT-19 proposal aims at characterizing the immune signatures in matched-patients occurring during the entire clinical course of severe forms of COVID-19 covering the critical, recovery and convalescent phases. By integrating immunological, transcriptomic and clinical data, COMAIT-19 endeavors to better characterize the role and functions of MAIT cells in COVID-19. To a larger extent, our proposal will likely decipher the fine mechanisms that regulate COVID-19-driven ARDS and progressive return to homeostasis.