T cell receptor repertoire of infiltrating T cells in lips of sjögren's syndrome patients

Abstract

Infiltrating T cells around salivary glands in the lips of Sjögren's syndrome (SjS) patients are crucial in the pathogenesis of this disease. To analyze the nature of infiltrating T cells, their T cell receptor repertoire was examined with quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The repertoire of Vβ transcripts in lips of SjS was not restricted; however, the Vβ32 and Vβ13 genes were predominantly expressed on the T cells of lip specimens in six and four of seven lips, respectively. Predominance of these genes was specific in lips because no predominant Vβ transcripts were found in lips from healthy subjects and PBLs from SjS patients. These results indicated that the V$2- and Vβ13-positive T cells expanded specifically and preferentially in SjS lips, thereby suggesting the possible role in triggering the autoimmunity of this disease.