Heat shock protein induced TCR γδ gene rearrangements in patients with oral cancer

We analyzed the T cell receptor (TCR) gammadelta gene repertoire in peripheral blood and tumor compartment of oral cancer (OC) patients before and after stimulation with heat shock proteins (hsp), which are known ligands for gammadelta T cells. Clonal TCR gamma and delta gene rearrangements in lymphocytes from tumor compartment and peripheral blood were studied using TCR Vgamma and Vdelta gene primers in PCR followed by heteroduplex analysis. Vgamma gene segments derived from VgammaI or VgammaII gene families were most dominantly expressed in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) as compared to tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) of OC patients. Of the rearranged TCR delta alleles Vdelta1-Jdelta1 and Vdelta2-Jdelta1 gene rearrangements were the most predominant in PBL and TIL of OC patients respectively. Stimulation of gammadelta T cells with hsp 60/70 demonstrated a selective clonal expansion of Vgamma9-Vdelta2 (VgammaII family) subset indicating that, this expanded population of cells could be responsible for eliciting an immune response against oral tumor cells.

Autoimmune disorders of the ovary

Infertility and ovarian disorders may occur not only due to imbalance in the steroid hormones but also due to the alteration in the immune function. A number of autoimmune disorders of the ovary, such as polycystic ovarian syndrome, premature ovarian failure and autoimmune oophoritis, have been documented. Both the cell mediated and humoral immune responses play an important role in these disorders. Cytokines secreted by the immune cells could have an adverse effect on ovarian steroidogenesis whereas the production of pathogenic T cells could lead to autoimmune disease of the ovary. Autoantibodies to granulosa and theca cells as well as zona pellucida of the oocyte have also been documented in women indicating that autoimmunity plays an important role in infertility. Thus the endocrine and the immune system work hand in hand to regulate ovarian function.