T cell receptor V alpha repertoire of infiltrating T cells in labial salivary glands from patients with Sjögren's syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the T cell receptor (TCR) V alpha repertoire of infiltrating T cells in labial salivary glands of patients with Sjögren's syndrome (SS).


METHODS
TCR V alpha genes of infiltrating T cells in lips from 2 patients with SS were examined, using the double step inverse polymerase chain reaction. Four and 7 clones encoding the VJC alpha region were established and sequenced, respectively.


RESULTS
All 4 clones used the V alpha 17.1 gene in one patient, while 3 (42.8%) of 7 clones from the other patient used the V alpha 2 family gene (V alpha 2.1, V alpha 2.2, V alpha 2.4), and the other 3 clones used the V alpha 11.1 family gene. A comparison using labial salivary glands and peripheral blood showed that the predominant expression of V alpha 2, V alpha 11.1, and V alpha 17.1 gene segments is specific in the salivary glands.


CONCLUSIONS
The TCR V alpha repertoire of infiltrating T cells from the lips of 2 patients with SS was relatively restricted in individual patients, thereby suggesting the limited heterogeneity of these cells in salivary glands.
Sumida
T
T
Second Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Chiba University, Japan.
Kita
Y
Y
Yonaha
F
F
Maeda
T
T
Iwamoto
I
I
Yoshida
S
S
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D008046:Lip; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D012470:Salivary Glands, Minor / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D004247:DNA