Faculty Opinions recommendation of IL-17 sequestration via salivary gland gene therapy in a mouse model of Sjogren's syndrome suppresses disease-associated expression of the putative autoantigen Klk1b22.

IntroductionThe purpose of this study was to identify differentially expressed proteins in salivary glands of the ERdj5 knockout mouse model for Sjögren’s syndrome and to elucidate possible mechanisms for the morbid phenotype development. At the same time, we describe for the first time the sexual dimorphism of the murine submandibular salivary gland at the proteome level.MethodsWe performed Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry in salivary gland tissues from both sexes of ERdj5 knockout and 129SV wildtype mice. The resulting list of proteins was evaluated with bioinformatic analysis and selected proteins were validated by western blot and immunohistochemistry and further analyzed at the transcription level by qRT-PCR.ResultsWe identified 88 deregulated proteins in females, and 55 in males in wildtype vs knockout comparisons. In both sexes, Kallikrein 1b22 was highly upregulated (fold change>25, ANOVA p<0.0001), while all other proteases of this family were either downregulated or not significantly affected by the genotype. Bioinformatic analysis revealed a possible connection with the downregulated NGF that was further validated by independent methods. Concurrently, we identified 416 proteins that were significantly different in the salivary gland proteome of wildtype female vs male mice and highlighted pathways that could be driving the strong female bias of the pathology.ConclusionOur research provides a list of novel targets and supports the involvement of an NGF-mediating proteolytic deregulation pathway as a focus point towards the better understanding of the underlying mechanism of Sjögren’s syndrome.

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Cenerimod, a selective S1P1 receptor modulator, improves organ-specific disease outcomes in animal models of Sjögren’s syndrome

Arthritis Research & Therapy ◽

10.1186/s13075-021-02673-x ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 23 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Estelle Gerossier ◽

Saba Nayar ◽

Sylvie Froidevaux ◽

Charlotte G. Smith ◽

Celine Runser ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Salivary Gland ◽

Mouse Model ◽

Salivary Glands ◽

Sjögren’S Syndrome ◽

Sjögren's Syndrome ◽

Sjogren’S Syndrome ◽

Sjogren's Syndrome ◽

Clinical Parameters ◽

Lymphoid Structures ◽

Sjögren‘S Syndrome

Abstract Background Sjögren’s syndrome is a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by immune cells predominantly infiltrating the exocrine glands and frequently forming ectopic lymphoid structures. These structures drive a local functional immune response culminating in autoantibody production and tissue damage, associated with severe dryness of mucosal surfaces and salivary gland hypofunction. Cenerimod, a potent, selective and orally active sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 1 modulator, inhibits the egress of lymphocytes into the circulation. Based on the mechanism of action of cenerimod, its efficacy was evaluated in two mouse models of Sjögren’s syndrome. Methods Cenerimod was administered in two established models of Sjögren’s syndrome; firstly, in an inducible acute viral sialadenitis model in C57BL/6 mice, and, secondly, in the spontaneous chronic sialadenitis MRL/lpr mouse model. The effects of cenerimod treatment were then evaluated by flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry, histopathology and immunoassays. Comparisons between groups were made using a Mann-Whitney test. Results In the viral sialadenitis model, cenerimod treatment reduced salivary gland immune infiltrates, leading to the disaggregation of ectopic lymphoid structures, reduced salivary gland inflammation and preserved organ function. In the MRL/lpr mouse model, cenerimod treatment decreased salivary gland inflammation and reduced T cells and proliferating plasma cells within salivary gland ectopic lymphoid structures, resulting in diminished disease-relevant autoantibodies within the salivary glands. Conclusions Taken together, these results suggest that cenerimod can reduce the overall autoimmune response and improve clinical parameters in the salivary glands in models of Sjögren’s syndrome and consequently may reduce histological and clinical parameters associated with the disease in patients.

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