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Updated: Jul 18, 2026
Isolation, Characterization and Functional Examination of the Gingival Immune Cell Network
Published on: February 16, 2016
Molecular analysis of T cell receptor beta variability in a patient with orofacial granulomatosis
1Department of Haematology, University of Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff.
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.
