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Silva EV, Almeida LY, Bortoletto KC, Quero IB, Jacomini FC, de Andrade BAB, Silveira HA, Duarte A, Petean FC, Rocha EM, Ribeiro-Silva A, Carlos R, León JE. Focal lymphocytic sialadenitis and ectopic germinal centers in oral reactive lesions and primary Sjögren's syndrome: a comparative study. Rheumatol Int 2021; 42:1411-1421. [PMID: 34283264 DOI: 10.1007/s00296-021-04949-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Focal lymphocytic sialadenitis (FLS), an important diagnostic criterion for Sjögren's syndrome (SS) diagnosis, can also be observed when assessing minor salivary gland (mSG) biopsies from healthy asymptomatic individuals (non-SS patients). Fifty cases of primary SS (pSS group) and 31 cases of oral reactive lesions (non-SS non-sicca group) containing also typical FLS features, were assessed by morphological and immunohistochemical (CD10, CD23 and Bcl-6) analysis, aiming at the detection of GCs. All pSS cases showed FLS with focus score (FS) ≥ 1. In the non-SS non-sicca group, 12, 10 and 9 cases showed FLS with FS ≥ 1, FLS with FS < 1 and FLS associated with chronic sclerosing sialadenitis with FS < 1, respectively. The morphological analysis revealed similar frequency of GCs in pSS (20%) and non-SS non-sicca group (19%). The area (p = 0.052) and largest diameter (p = 0.245) of GCs were higher in pSS than non-SS non-sicca group. The FS and number of foci were significantly higher in pSS than non-SS non-sicca group with FS < 1. Immunohistochemistry confirmed all morphological findings (GCs showing CD23 and Bcl-6 positivity, with variable CD10 expression) and additionally in 3 and 1 cases of the pSS and non-SS non-sicca group, respectively. Moreover, another 6 and 2 cases of the pSS and non-SS non-sicca group with FS ≥ 1, respectively, showed positivity only for CD23. FLS can also be observed when assessing oral reactive lesions, which showed similar frequency of GCs with those found in pSS patients. Further studies, including functional analysis of lymphocytic populations and GCs in FLS, are encouraged.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evânio Vilela Silva
- Oral Medicine, Department of Diagnosis and Surgery, Araraquara Dental School, Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), Araraquara, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Luciana Yamamoto Almeida
- Oral Medicine, Department of Diagnosis and Surgery, Araraquara Dental School, Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), Araraquara, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Karen Cristine Bortoletto
- Oral Pathology, Department of Stomatology, Public Oral Health and Forensic Dentistry, School of Dentistry of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo (FORP/USP), Ribeirão Preto, SP, 14040-904, Brazil
| | - Isabela Barbosa Quero
- Oral Pathology, Department of Stomatology, Public Oral Health and Forensic Dentistry, School of Dentistry of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo (FORP/USP), Ribeirão Preto, SP, 14040-904, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Carolina Jacomini
- Oral Pathology, Department of Stomatology, Public Oral Health and Forensic Dentistry, School of Dentistry of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo (FORP/USP), Ribeirão Preto, SP, 14040-904, Brazil
| | - Bruno Augusto Benevenuto de Andrade
- Oral Pathology, Department of Oral Diagnosis and Pathology, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Heitor Albergoni Silveira
- Oral Medicine, Department of Diagnosis and Surgery, Araraquara Dental School, Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), Araraquara, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Andressa Duarte
- Department of Pathology and Forensic Medicine, Ribeirão Preto Medical School (FMRP/USP), University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Flávio Calil Petean
- Department of Ophthalmology, Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Eduardo Melani Rocha
- Department of Ophthalmology, Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Alfredo Ribeiro-Silva
- Department of Pathology and Forensic Medicine, Ribeirão Preto Medical School (FMRP/USP), University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Román Carlos
- Departament of Pathology, Hospital Herrera-Llerandi/AMEDESGUA, Guatemala City, Guatemala
| | - Jorge Esquiche León
- Oral Pathology, Department of Stomatology, Public Oral Health and Forensic Dentistry, School of Dentistry of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo (FORP/USP), Ribeirão Preto, SP, 14040-904, Brazil.
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Bharaj TK, Aqrawi LA, Fromreide S, Jonsson R, Brun JG, Appel S, Skarstein K. Inflammatory Stratification in Primary Sjögren's Syndrome Reveals Novel Immune Cell Alterations in Patients' Minor Salivary Glands. Front Immunol 2021; 12:701581. [PMID: 34322130 PMCID: PMC8311440 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.701581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
There is a critical need to deconvolute the heterogeneity displayed by the minor salivary glands of primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS) patients. This is challenging primarily because the disease etiology remains unknown. The hypothesis includes that initial events in the disease pathogenesis target the salivary glands, thereby triggering the development of focal infiltrates (≥50 mononuclear cells) and finally germinal center-like structures. However, the proportion of key mononuclear immune cells residing at these sites, in combination with the overall ratio of morphometric tissue atrophy and adipose infiltration within the minor salivary glands (MSG) parenchyma at distinct phases of inflammatory disease establishment and progression have not been quantified in detail. In this cross-sectional study, we intended to address this problem by stratifying 85 patients into mild (S1), moderate (S2), and severe (S3) stages using the Inflammatory severity index. We found that mild (<3%) and marked (≥3%) levels of atrophy were accompanied by the respective levels of adipose infiltration in the non-SS sicca controls (p <0.01), but not in pSS patients. The percentage of adipose infiltration significantly correlated with the age of patients (r = 0.458, p <0.0001) and controls (r = 0.515, p <0.0001). The CD4+ T helper cell incidence was reduced in the focal infiltrates of the MSG of S2 patients compared to S1 (p <0.01), and in S2 compared to S1 and S3 combined (p <0.05). CD20+ B cells increased from S1 to S3 (p <0.01) and S2 to S3 (p <0.01), meanwhile CD138+ plasma cells diminished in S3 patients compared to both S1 and S2 groups combined (p <0.01). The proportion of patients with anti-Ro/SSA+, anti-La/SSB+, and RF+ increased over the course of inflammatory disease progression and they were significantly more common in the S3 group relative to S1 (p <0.05). On the other hand, S2 patients measured a higher mean salivary flow relative to S1 and S3 patients combined (p <0.05). Our results demonstrate how the proposed Inflammatory severity index stratification revealed pathological cell and tissue-associated aberrations in the salivary component over the course of inflammatory progression, and their correlations to clinical outcomes. This could be directly transferred to the optimization of available diagnostic strategies applied for pSS patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamandeep K Bharaj
- Gade Laboratory for Pathology, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Lara A Aqrawi
- Department of Health Sciences, Kristiania University College, Oslo, Norway
| | - Siren Fromreide
- Gade Laboratory for Pathology, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Roland Jonsson
- Broegelmann Research Laboratory, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.,Department of Rheumatology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
| | - Johan G Brun
- Department of Rheumatology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
| | - Silke Appel
- Broegelmann Research Laboratory, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Kathrine Skarstein
- Gade Laboratory for Pathology, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.,Department of Pathology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
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3
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Verstappen GM, Gao L, Pringle S, Haacke EA, van der Vegt B, Liefers SC, Patel V, Hu Y, Mukherjee S, Carman J, Menard LC, Spijkervet FKL, Vissink A, Bootsma H, Kroese FGM. The Transcriptome of Paired Major and Minor Salivary Gland Tissue in Patients With Primary Sjögren's Syndrome. Front Immunol 2021; 12:681941. [PMID: 34295332 PMCID: PMC8291032 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.681941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background While all salivary glands (SGs) can be involved in primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS), their respective role in pathogenesis remains unclear. Our objective was to assess immunopathway activation in paired parotid and labial gland tissue from biopsy-positive and biopsy-negative pSS and non-SS sicca patients. Methods Paraffin-embedded, paired parotid and labial salivary gland tissue and peripheral blood mononuclear cells were obtained from 39 pSS and 20 non-SS sicca patients. RNA was extracted, complementary DNA libraries were prepared and sequenced. For analysis of differentially expressed genes (DEGs), patients were subdivided based on fulfillment of ACR-EULAR criteria and histopathology. Results With principal component analysis, only biopsy-positive pSS could be separated from non-SS sicca patients based on SG gene expression. When comparing the transcriptome of biopsy-positive pSS and biopsy-negative non-SS sicca patients, 1235 and 624 DEGs (FDR<0.05, log2FC<-1 or >1) were identified for parotid and labial glands, respectively. The number of DEGs between biopsy-negative pSS and non-SS sicca patients was scarce. Overall, transcript expression levels correlated strongly between parotid and labial glands (R2 = 0.86, p-value<0.0001). Gene signatures present in both glands of biopsy-positive pSS patients included IFN-α signaling, IL-12/IL-18 signaling, CD3/CD28 T-cell activation, CD40 signaling in B-cells, DN2 B-cells, and FcRL4+ B-cells. Signature scores varied considerably amongst pSS patients. Conclusion Transcriptomes of paired major and minor SGs in pSS were overall comparable, although significant inter-individual heterogeneity in immunopathway activation existed. The SG transcriptome of biopsy-negative pSS was indistinguishable from non-SS sicca patients. Different patterns of SG immunopathway activation in pSS argue for personalized treatment approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gwenny M. Verstappen
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Lu Gao
- Immunology, Cardiovascular, Fibrosis Thematic Research Center, Translational Early Development, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Princeton, NJ, United States
| | - Sarah Pringle
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Erlin A. Haacke
- Pathology and Medical Biology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Bert van der Vegt
- Pathology and Medical Biology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Silvia C. Liefers
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Vishal Patel
- Immunology, Cardiovascular, Fibrosis Thematic Research Center, Translational Early Development, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Princeton, NJ, United States
| | - Yanhua Hu
- Immunology, Cardiovascular, Fibrosis Thematic Research Center, Translational Early Development, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Princeton, NJ, United States
| | - Sumanta Mukherjee
- Immunology, Cardiovascular, Fibrosis Thematic Research Center, Translational Early Development, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Princeton, NJ, United States
| | - Julie Carman
- Immunology, Cardiovascular, Fibrosis Thematic Research Center, Translational Early Development, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Princeton, NJ, United States
| | - Laurence C. Menard
- Immunology, Cardiovascular, Fibrosis Thematic Research Center, Translational Early Development, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Princeton, NJ, United States
| | - Frederik K. L. Spijkervet
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Arjan Vissink
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Hendrika Bootsma
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Frans G. M. Kroese
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
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Rosenbaum JT, Choi D, Harrington CA, Wilson DJ, Grossniklaus HE, Sibley CH, Salek SS, Ng JD, Dailey RA, Steele EA, Hayek B, Craven CM, Edward DP, Maktabi AMY, Al Hussain H, White VA, Dolman PJ, Czyz CN, Foster JA, Harris GJ, Bee YS, Tse DT, Alabiad CR, Dubovy SR, Kazim M, Selva D, Yeatts RP, Korn BS, Kikkawa DO, Silkiss RZ, Sivak-Callcott JA, Stauffer P, Planck SR. Gene Expression Profiling and Heterogeneity of Nonspecific Orbital Inflammation Affecting the Lacrimal Gland. JAMA Ophthalmol 2017; 135:1156-1162. [PMID: 28975236 DOI: 10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2017.3458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Importance Although a variety of well-characterized diseases, such as sarcoidosis and granulomatosis with polyangiitis, affect the lacrimal gland, many patients with dacryoadenitis are diagnosed as having nonspecific orbital inflammation (NSOI) on the basis of histology and systemic disease evaluation. The ability to further classify the disease in these patients should facilitate selection of effective therapies. Objective To test the a priori hypothesis that gene expression profiles would complement clinical and histopathologic evaluations in identifying well-characterized diseases and in subdividing NSOI into clinically relevant groups. Design, Setting, and Participants In this cohort study, gene expression levels in biopsy specimens of inflamed and control lacrimal glands were measured with microarrays. Stained sections of the same biopsy specimens were used for evaluation of histopathology. Tissue samples of patients were obtained from oculoplastic surgeons at 7 international centers representing 4 countries (United States, Saudi Arabia, Canada, and Taiwan). Gene expression analysis was done at Oregon Health & Science University. Participants were 48 patients, including 3 with granulomatosis with polyangiitis, 28 with NSOI, 7 with sarcoidosis, 4 with thyroid eye disease, and 6 healthy controls. The study dates were March 2012 to April 2017. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary outcome was subdivision of biopsy specimens based on gene expression of a published list of approximately 40 differentially expressed transcripts in blood, lacrimal gland, and orbital adipose tissue from patients with sarcoidosis. Stained sections were evaluated for inflammation (none, mild, moderate, or marked), granulomas, nodules, or fibrosis by 2 independent ocular pathologists masked to the clinical diagnosis. Results Among 48 patients (mean [SD] age, 41.6 [19.0] years; 32 [67%] female), the mclust algorithm segregated the biopsy specimens into 4 subsets, with the differences illustrated by a heat map and multidimensional scaling plots. Most of the sarcoidosis biopsy specimens were in subset 1, which had the highest granuloma score. Three NSOI biopsy specimens in subset 1 had no apparent granulomas. Thirty-two percent (9 of 28) of the NSOI biopsy specimens could not be distinguished from biopsy specimens of healthy controls in subset 4, while other examples of NSOI tended to group with gene expression resembling granulomatosis with polyangiitis or thyroid eye disease. The 4 subsets could also be partially differentiated by their fibrosis, granulomas, and inflammation pathology scores but not their lymphoid nodule scores. Conclusions and Relevance Gene expression profiling discloses clear heterogeneity among patients with lacrimal inflammatory disease. Comparison of the expression profiles suggests that a subset of patients with nonspecific dacryoadenitis might have a limited form of sarcoidosis, while other patients with NSOI cannot be distinguished from healthy controls.
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Affiliation(s)
- James T Rosenbaum
- Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland.,Devers Eye Institute, Legacy Health System, Portland, Oregon.,Department of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland
| | - Dongseok Choi
- Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland.,Oregon Health and Science University-Portland State University School of Public Health, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland.,Graduate School of Dentistry, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea
| | | | - David J Wilson
- Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland
| | | | - Cailin H Sibley
- Department of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland
| | - Sherveen S Salek
- Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland.,Devers Eye Institute, Legacy Health System, Portland, Oregon
| | - John D Ng
- Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland
| | - Roger A Dailey
- Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland
| | - Eric A Steele
- Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland
| | - Brent Hayek
- Department of Ophthalmology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | | | - Deepak P Edward
- Research Department, King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Azza M Y Maktabi
- Research Department, King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hailah Al Hussain
- Research Department, King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Valerie A White
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Peter J Dolman
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Craig N Czyz
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ohio University, Columbus.,Ophthalmic Surgeons and Consultants of Ohio, Columbus
| | - Jill A Foster
- Ophthalmic Surgeons and Consultants of Ohio, Columbus.,Department of Ophthalmology, The Ohio State University, Columbus
| | - Gerald J Harris
- Department of Ophthalmology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
| | - Youn-Shen Bee
- Department of Ophthalmology, Kaohsiung Veteran's General Hospital, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan
| | - David T Tse
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Miami, Miami, Florida
| | | | - Sander R Dubovy
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Miami, Miami, Florida
| | - Michael Kazim
- Department of Ophthalmology, Columbia University, New York, New York
| | - Dinesh Selva
- Ophthalmology Network, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, Australia
| | - R Patrick Yeatts
- Department of Ophthalmology, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
| | - Bobby S Korn
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Diego
| | - Don O Kikkawa
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Diego
| | | | | | - Patrick Stauffer
- Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland
| | - Stephen R Planck
- Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland.,Devers Eye Institute, Legacy Health System, Portland, Oregon.,Department of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland
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Stewart CM, Bhattacharyya I, Berg K, Cohen DM, Orlando C, Drew P, Islam NM, Ojha J, Reeves W. Labial salivary gland biopsies in Sjögren's syndrome: still the gold standard? ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2008; 106:392-402. [PMID: 18602295 DOI: 10.1016/j.tripleo.2008.04.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2008] [Revised: 03/26/2008] [Accepted: 04/18/2008] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The accuracy and diagnostic benefits of the labial salivary gland (LSG) biopsy for Sjögren's syndrome (SS) have received mixed reviews. This study was conducted to assess (1) the inter-rater agreement among 5 pathologists, and (2) the relationship between biopsy findings and clinical disease parameters. STUDY DESIGN Three oral pathologists (OP) and two surgical pathologists (SP) provided independent diagnoses, focus scores, and plasma cell characterizations for 37 LSG biopsies. Inter-rater reliability was assessed using percentage of overall agreement and intraclass correlation coefficients. Relationships between diagnoses and clinical parameters were assessed by nonparametric correlations. RESULTS Overall agreement among the pathologists was poor, although the intra-specialty agreement was good. The ratings of OP were most highly correlated with serological measures, while those of SP were correlated with salivary flow rate and disease damage. CONCLUSION Since the LSG biopsy can be the determining factor in SS diagnoses, these demonstrated inconsistencies merit further consideration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carol M Stewart
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Diagnostic Sciences, University of Florida College of Dentistry, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.
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Egerer T, Martinez-Gamboa L, Dankof A, Stuhlmüller B, Dörner T, Krenn V, Egerer K, Rudolph PE, Burmester GR, Feist E. Tissue-specific up-regulation of the proteasome subunit beta5i (LMP7) in Sjögren's syndrome. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2006; 54:1501-8. [PMID: 16646031 DOI: 10.1002/art.21782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is characterized by autoimmune infiltration and focal accumulation of lymphocytes in the exocrine glands, with a predominance of CD4-positive T cells. Since these histologic findings are nonspecific, determination of clinical and serologic abnormalities contribute to the diagnosis. The aim of this study was to identify a novel, disease-specific, immunologically relevant marker for SS. METHODS To analyze disease-related and tissue-specific expression of candidate markers, we examined biopsied minor salivary glands and peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with primary and secondary SS (n = 26) as well as from patients with sicca symptoms without autoimmune sialadenitis (n = 15). Expression of the Th1/Th2-related chemokines CCL3 (macrophage inflammatory protein 1alpha) and CCL2 (monocyte chemoattractant protein 1), CXCL7 (neutrophil-activating peptide 2 [NAP-2]), interleukin-1beta, inducible costimulator, and the proteasome subunits alpha3 (C9) and beta5i (LMP7) was analyzed at the messenger RNA (mRNA) level using real-time polymerase chain reaction techniques. Immunohistochemical analysis was used to identify the beta5i (LMP7)-expressing cell populations in minor salivary glands. RESULTS The expression profiles revealed a significant up-regulation of beta5i (LMP7) exclusively in the salivary glands of SS patients. Immunohistochemistry confirmed expression of the immunoproteasome subunit beta5i (LMP7) within the acinar and ductal epithelial cells. No significant difference in the distinct histologic focus scores was evident for the expression of the markers investigated. In the peripheral blood compartment, the expression of CXCL7 was up-regulated both in primary and in secondary SS. CONCLUSION Tissue-specific up-regulation of beta5i (LMP7) mRNA was shown to be characteristic of SS, indicating a disease-specific modulation of the proteasome system. Expression of beta5i (LMP7) represents an independent parameter that can be used in addition to the focus score to distinguish SS in biopsied labial salivary glands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Egerer
- Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Humboldt University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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