Activation of Toll‐like receptor 7 signaling in labial salivary glands of primary Sjögren's syndrome patients

The interferon (IFN) signature, namely the overexpression of IFN-inducible genes is a crucial aspect in the pathogenesis of primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS). The IFN-inducible IFI16 protein, normally expressed in cell nuclei, may be overexpressed, mislocalized in the cytoplasm and secreted in the extracellular milieu in several autoimmune disorders including pSS. This leads to tolerance breaking to this self-protein and development of anti-IFI16 antibodies. The aim of this study was to identify pathogenic and clinical significance of IFI16 and anti-IFI16 autoantibodies in pSS. IFI16 and anti-IFI16 were assessed in the serum of 30 pSS patients and one-hundred healthy donors (HD) by ELISA. IFI16 was also evaluated in 5 minor salivary glands (MSGs) of pSS patients and 5 MSGs of non-pSS patients with sicca symptoms by immunohistochemistry. Normal MSGs do not constitutively express IFI16. Conversely, in pSS-MSGs a marked expression and cytoplasmic mislocalization of IFI16 by epithelial cells was observed with infiltrations in lymphocytes and peri/ intra-lesional endothelium. pSS patients display higher serum levels of both IFI16 and anti-IFI16 autoantibodies compared to HD. Our data suggest that IFI16 protein may be involved in the initiation and perpetuation of glandular inflammation occurring in pSS.

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Increased interleukin (IL)-7Rα expression in salivary glands of patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome is restricted to T cells and correlates with IL-7 expression, lymphocyte numbers and activity

Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases ◽

10.1136/annrheumdis-2011-200744 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 71 (6) ◽

pp. 1027-1033 ◽

Cited By ~ 28

Author(s):

A Bikker ◽

A A Kruize ◽

M Wenting ◽

M A Versnel ◽

J W J Bijlsma ◽

...

Keyword(s):

T Cells ◽

Salivary Glands ◽

Sjögren’S Syndrome ◽

Sjögren's Syndrome ◽

Sjogren’S Syndrome ◽

Sjogren's Syndrome ◽

Primary Sjögren’S Syndrome ◽

Primary Sjogren’S Syndrome ◽

Primary Sjögren's Syndrome ◽

Sjögren‘S Syndrome

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Imaging in Primary Sjögren’s Syndrome

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm9082492 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (8) ◽

pp. 2492 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Martha S. van Ginkel ◽

Andor W.J.M. Glaudemans ◽

Bert van der Vegt ◽

Esther Mossel ◽

Frans G.M. Kroese ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Salivary Glands ◽

Sjögren’S Syndrome ◽

Sjögren's Syndrome ◽

Imaging Techniques ◽

Sjogren’S Syndrome ◽

Sjogren's Syndrome ◽

Primary Sjögren’S Syndrome ◽

Primary Sjogren’S Syndrome ◽

Primary Sjögren's Syndrome ◽

Sjögren‘S Syndrome

Primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS) is a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by dysfunction and lymphocytic infiltration of the salivary and lacrimal glands. Besides the characteristic sicca complaints, pSS patients can present a spectrum of signs and symptoms, which challenges the diagnostic process. Various imaging techniques can be used to assist in the diagnostic work-up and follow-up of pSS patients. Developments in imaging techniques provide new opportunities and perspectives. In this descriptive review, we discuss imaging techniques that are used in pSS with a focus on the salivary glands. The emphasis is on the contribution of these techniques to the diagnosis of pSS, their potential in assessing disease activity and disease progression in pSS, and their contribution to diagnosing and staging of pSS-associated lymphomas. Imaging findings of the salivary glands will be linked to histopathological changes in the salivary glands of pSS patients.

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