Human CD1c-autoreactive T-cells recognise Mycobacterium tuberculosis-infected antigen-presenting cells and display cytotoxic effector programmes.

Human CD1c-autoreactive T-cells recognize M. tuberculosis-infected APCs, exhibit cytotoxic programs, and reduce bacterial burden, highlighting a key immune pathway in TB.

• Why it matters: Understanding non-classical T-cell responses in TB is crucial because they may reveal new mechanisms of immunity and potential therapeutic targets, especially as Mtb evades traditional immune pathways.
• What they did: Using engineered human APC systems and single-cell transcriptomics, the study examined CD1c-autoreactive T-cell responses to Mtb-infected cells, revealing their activation and cytotoxic profiles.
• The result: These T-cells display cytotoxic effector-memory programs and antimicrobial molecule expression, reducing Mtb burden in vitro, suggesting they could be pivotal in lipid-based TB immunity.