PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - S H Lim
AU  - P Stephens
AU  - Q X Cao
AU  - S Coleman
AU  - D W Thomas
TI  - Molecular analysis of T cell receptor beta variability in a patient with orofacial granulomatosis.
AID  - 10.1136/gut.40.5.683
DP  - 1997 May 01
TA  - Gut
PG  - 683--686
VI  - 40
IP  - 5
4099  - http://gut.bmj.com/content/40/5/683.short
4100  - http://gut.bmj.com/content/40/5/683.full
SO  - Gut1997 May 01; 40
AB  - BACKGROUND: Orofacial granulomatosis (OFG) is a rare chronic inflammatory disorder of unknown causation and is characterised histologically by non-caseating granulomas and aggregates of small lymphocytes. The molecular nature of these T cells is, however, unclear. AIMS: To determine the T cell receptor (TCR) V beta gene usage of the T cell infiltrate associated with the primary lesions in a patient with OFG. METHODS: A molecular method involving reverse transcriptase (RT)-polymerase chain reaction (PCR), DNA cloning, single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP), length analysis, and nucleotide sequencing was used. RESULTS: Compared with peripheral blood lymphocytes from the same patient, notably restricted TCRV beta gene usage was observed in the T cell infiltrate. Only three of the 24 major TCRV beta gene families were represented in the repertoire. There was preferential usage of the V beta 6 gene. In addition, more than 20% of the V beta 6 TCR transcripts exhibited an identical unique V-D-J junctional sequence, suggesting a local antigen driven V beta 6 T cell clonal expansion in vivo, a phenomenon not observed in normal oral mucosa. CONCLUSIONS: The TCRV beta repertoire of T cells associated with OFG is restricted. It is also associated with a local T cell clonal expansion. The results, therefore, provide a new perspective on the immunopathology of OFG.