%0 Journal Article
%T Function of unconventional T cells in oral lichen planus revealed by single-cell RNA sequencing.
%A Zhao C
%A Zhao R
%A Wu X
%A Tang K
%A Xu P
%A Chen X
%A Zhu P
%A He Y
%J Inflamm Res
%V 73
%N 9
%D 2024 Sep 29
%M 39073597
%F 6.986
%R 10.1007/s00011-024-01912-6
%X <B>OBJECTIVE: </B>We intended to map the single-cell profile of OLP, explore the molecular characteristics of unconventional T cells in OLP tissues.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>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.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>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.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>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.