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Updated: Jun 18, 2025
Single-cell Gene Expression Using Multiplex RT-qPCR to Characterize Heterogeneity of Rare Lymphoid Populations
Published on: January 19, 2017
Function of unconventional T cells in oral lichen planus revealed by single-cell RNA sequencing
Chen Zhao1, Ruowen Zhao1, Xinwen Wu2
1Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Tooth Restoration and Regeneration & Tongji Research Institute of Stomatology & Department of Oral Medicine, School of Stomatology, Stomatological Hospital and Dental School, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200072, China.
Objective:
We intended to map the single-cell profile of OLP, explore the molecular characteristics of unconventional T cells in OLP tissues.
Methods:
Buccal mucosa samples from OLP patients and healthy individuals were used to prepare single-cell suspension. Single-cell RNA sequencing was used to analyze the proportion of all the cells, and the molecular characteristics of unconventional T cells. Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expression of unconventional T cells marker genes.
Results:
The cell clusters from buccal mucosa were categorized into immune cells, fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and epithelial cells. Unconventional T cells with phenotype of CD247+TRDC+NCAM1+ were identified. Immunohistochemical staining revealed higher expression of unconventional T cell marker genes in OLP tissue, predominantly in the lamina propria. In OLP, unconventional T cells are in a unique stress response state, exhibited enhanced NF-κB signaling and apoptosis inhibition, enhanced heat shock protein genes expression, weakened cytotoxic function. A large number of ligand-receptor pairs were found between unconventional T cells and other cells, particularly with fibroblasts and endothelial cells.
Conclusions:
This study mapped the single-cell profile of OLP, delineated the molecular characteristics of unconventional T cells in OLP, and uncovered that these unconventional T cells are in a stress response state.
