Article
Immunology
Petros Moustardas, Naomi Yamada-Fowler, Eirini Apostolou, Athanasios G. Tzioufas, Maria Turkina, Giannis Spyrou
Summary: Through proteomics analysis, we found 88 deregulated proteins in females and 55 in males in wildtype vs knockout comparisons. Additionally, we identified 416 proteins significantly different in the salivary gland proteome of wildtype female vs male mice, highlighting pathways that could drive the strong female bias of the pathology.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nicoletta Di Giorgi, Antonella Cecchettini, Elena Michelucci, Giovanni Signore, Elisa Ceccherini, Francesco Ferro, Elena Elefante, Chiara Tani, Chiara Baldini, Silvia Rocchiccioli
Summary: In this study, mass spectrometry was used to analyze the salivary proteomics of patients with established primary Sjogren's syndrome (pSS) and patients with pre-clinical SS. A common protein signature was identified in their salivary fluid. Differential expression of inflammatory, immunity-related, and acinar proteins suggests that saliva may reflect exocrine gland inflammation in the early phases of the disease. Salivary proteomics can be a valuable tool for identifying reliable biomarkers for SS, even in the preclinical phase of the disease.
Article
Immunology
Ning Li, Yusi Li, Jiawei Hu, Yicheng Wu, Jie Yang, Hongmei Fan, Lei Li, Danyang Luo, Yulin Ye, Yiming Gao, Haimin Xu, Wangxi Hai, Liting Jiang
Summary: This study revealed the interaction between mitochondrial dysfunction and the immune microenvironment in salivary glands of pSS patients and provided important insights into the clinical management of SS based on modulation of mitochondrial function.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Rheumatology
Hong Ki Min, Se Hee Kim, Kyung-Ann Lee, Joon-Hyung Jo, Young So, Hyun Woo Chung, Sang-Heon Lee, Hae-Rim Kim
Summary: This study compared the findings of salivary gland ultrasonography (SGUS) and salivary gland scintigraphy (SGS) in patients with primary SS. The study found that patients with a higher SGUS score had lower salivary gland function, and there was a significant correlation between SGUS score and SGS results. These findings suggest a possible predictive role of SGUS in diagnosing salivary gland dysfunction.
Article
Rheumatology
Hiroyuki Nakamura, Tsutomu Tanaka, Thomas Pranzatelli, Youngmi Ji, Hongen Yin, Paola Perez, Sandra A. Afione, Shyh-Ing Jang, Corrine Goldsmith, Chang Yu Zheng, William D. Swaim, Blake M. Warner, Noriyuki Hirata, Masayuki Noguchi, Tatsuya Atsumi, John A. Chiorini
Summary: The study demonstrates that altering lysosome activity through the expression of LAMP3 in salivary gland epithelial cells can initiate an autoimmune response similar to SS, resulting in the production of autoantibodies and salivary dysfunction.
ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES
(2021)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Rui Liao, Hai-Tao Yang, Heng Li, Li-Xiong Liu, Kai Li, Jing-Jing Li, Jie Liang, Xiao-Ping Hong, Yu-Lan Chen, Dong-Zhou Liu
Summary: Sjogren's syndrome is a chronic autoimmune disease with complicated clinical manifestations. Salivary gland biopsy plays a crucial role in diagnosis and risk assessment for the disease.
FRONTIERS IN MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Akinsola Oyelakin, Erich Horeth, Eun-Ah Christine Song, Sangwon Min, Monika Che, Brandon Marzullo, Christopher J. Lessard, Astrid Rasmussen, Lida Radfar, R. Hal Scofield, David M. Lewis, Donald U. Stone, Kiely Grundahl, Scott S. De Rossi, Zoya Kurago, A. Darise Farris, Kathy L. Sivils, Satrajit Sinha, Jill M. Kramer, Rose-Anne Romano
Summary: Primary Sjogren's syndrome is a systemic autoimmune disease primarily affecting women, leading to loss of saliva and tears. Currently, there is no effective cure due to limited understanding of disease etiology and pathology.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Immunology
Zhen Tan, Li Wang, Xiaomei Li
Summary: This paper summarizes recent studies on the salivary glands of pSS patients from the perspective of the immune microenvironment. It demonstrates that hypoxia, senescence, and chronic inflammation are the essential characteristics of the salivary gland immune microenvironment in pSS. Multiple signaling pathways are involved in its regulation.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Amir Rattner, Jacob S. Heng, Briana L. Winer, Loyal A. Goff, Jeremy Nathans
Summary: This study analyzed the cell types and gene expression patterns in the lacrimal gland of mice. It identified a new cell type, Car6+ cells, and found that acinar cells express multiple tear fluid components with sex differences in expression. The study also revealed heterogeneity in gene expression within cell types and identified interferon responses and immune cell infiltrates in Sjogren's syndrome models.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Review
Immunology
Elena Pontarini, Rachel Coleby, Michele Bombardieri
Summary: Primary Sjogren's syndrome (pSS) is a highly heterogeneous disease with some patients at risk of developing B cell lymphomas. Recent research on immunopathology and molecular pathology has revealed differences between patient clusters, aiding in a better understanding of the disease mechanisms.
SEMINARS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Rheumatology
Lou Kawka, Renaud Felten, Cedric Schleiss, Jean-Daniel Fauny, Pauline Le Van Quyen, Helene Dumortier, Fanny Monneaux, Jacques-Eric Gottenberg
Summary: This study aimed to assess the role of innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) in primary Sjogren's syndrome (pSS). The frequency of ILC subsets in peripheral blood and their quantity and location in minor salivary glands were analyzed. The results showed that altered ILC homeostasis mainly concerns salivary glands in pSS and the ILC3 subset plays a pathogenic role in the development of T and B lymphocyte infiltrates in the early stages of pSS.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Julie Sarrand, Laurie Baglione, Dorian Parisis, Muhammad Soyfoo
Summary: Sjogren's syndrome is a chronic autoimmune disease that primarily affects exocrine glands. It is characterized by lymphoplasmacytic infiltration and dysfunction of the glandular tissues. In addition to dry eyes and dry mouth, patients commonly experience fatigue, pain, and other systemic symptoms.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Hongen Yin, Thomas J. F. Pranzatelli, Benjamin N. French, Nan Zhang, Blake M. Warner, John A. Chiorini
Summary: The study developed a novel method for quantifying fibrosis in the salivary gland and found a significant correlation between fibrosis and symptoms in SS patients. Fibroblasts may play a key role in expressing genes related to fibrosis in the gland.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jing Zhou, Xiaofeng Zhang, Qing Yu
Summary: This study demonstrates the critical role of plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) in the pathogenesis of autoimmune Sjogren's syndrome (SS) by using a pDC-depleting antibody in the NOD mouse model. Depletion of pDCs significantly alleviates inflammation and secretory dysfunction in the salivary glands, highlighting the important contribution of pDCs in the development of SS-like salivary gland exocrinopathy.
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-MOLECULAR BASIS OF DISEASE
(2022)
Article
Rheumatology
Giuliana Guggino, Chiara Rizzo, Leila Mohammadnezhad, Marianna Lo Pizzo, Vincenzo Luca Lentini, Diana Di Liberto, Lidia La Barbera, Stefania Raimondo, Mojtaba Shekarkar Azgomi, Ornella Urzi, Onorina Berardicurti, Giuseppina Campisi, Riccardo Alessandro, Roberto Giacomelli, Francesco Dieli, Francesco Ciccia
Summary: The study aimed to investigate the expression of interleukin (IL)-40 in primary Sjogren syndrome (pSS) and pSS-associated lymphomas. The results showed that IL-40 was significantly increased in the lymphocytic infiltrated minor salivary gland of pSS patients and in pSS-associated lymphomas. B cells were found to be the major source of IL-40. In vitro experiments demonstrated that IL-40 stimulation resulted in the release of proinflammatory cytokines. The findings suggest that IL-40 may play a role in pSS pathogenesis and pSS-associated lymphomas.
Review
Immunology
Richard Witas, Ammon B. Peck, Julian L. Ambrus, Cuong Q Nguyen
JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY RESEARCH
(2019)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ammon B. Peck, Cuong Q. Nguyen, Julian Ambrus
Summary: The C57BL/6.NOD-Aec1Aec2 mouse model has been studied extensively for defining cellular and molecular processes underlying primary Sjogren's Syndrome (pSS). It has been shown that MZB cells play a crucial role in the development and onset of pSS, even though T cell-mediated autoimmune response is involved in the destruction of lacrimal and salivary gland cells. Temporal transcriptomic analyses have revealed early immune cell migrations and cellular bioprocesses occurring in the salivary glands during the development of autoimmunity.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Richard Witas, Astrid Rasmussen, Robert H. Scofield, Lida Radfar, Donald U. Stone, Kiely Grundahl, David Lewis, Kathy L. Sivils, Christopher J. Lessard, A. Darise Farris, Cuong Q. Nguyen
Summary: Mer signaling plays a protective role in Sjogren's syndrome (SjS), with a correlation between sMer levels in patient plasma and disease manifestations. The study suggests that enhanced ADAM17 activity leads to Mer inactivation and suppression of Mer signaling, which removes protection against loss of self-tolerance and onset of autoimmune disease in SjS susceptible mice.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Min Song, Jide Tian, Blake Middleton, Cuong Q. Nguyen, Daniel L. Kaufman
Summary: Oral administration of GABA may have potential for ameliorating Sjogren's syndrome (SS) by increasing salivary and tear production and reducing symptoms. This treatment does not significantly affect lymphocytic infiltration and could provide a new approach for improving SS symptoms.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ammon B. Peck, Cuong Q. Nguyen, Julian L. Ambrus
Summary: This study investigates the cellular and molecular basis for the onset and development of Sjogren's syndrome (SS) in C57BL/6.NOD-Aec1Aec2 mice using transcriptomic analyses. The study highlights the critical role of marginal zone B (MZB) lymphocytes in the development and onset of SS disease. Transcriptome analyses of lacrimal glands reveal the upregulation of genes and gene sets involved in the Notch2/NF-k beta 14 and Type1 interferon signal transduction pathways, as well as the cellular migration of immune cells to the lacrimal glands. Comparison with salivary gland data provides insights into the similarities and differences in the autoimmune response within the two glands.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Shivai Gupta, Danmeng Li, David A. Ostrov, Cuong Q. Nguyen
Summary: Sjogren's syndrome is characterized by lymphocytic infiltration and dysfunction of salivary and lacrimal glands. Studies have shown a significant genetic correlation between specific risk HLAs and SjS, with HLA-DRB1*0301 being particularly influential. The specific autoantigens attributed to SjS and the epitopes presented by HLA-DRB1*0301 remain elusive, requiring further research.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yiran A. Shen, Bhuwan K. Khatri, Santosh J. Rananaware, Danmeng Q. Li, David Ostrov, Piyush Jain, Christopher Lessard, Cuong Nguyen
Summary: COVID-19 is caused by SARS-CoV-2 and its severity is influenced by various known and unknown risk factors. A genome-wide association study identified genetic loci associated with COVID-19 susceptibility, particularly in individuals of European ancestry. Additionally, the study explored the linkage between HLA and COVID-19 severity and found differential presentation of viral peptides in different ancestral origins. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the disease's pathogenesis and potential clinical treatments.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
William Donelan, ShiWu Li, Paul R. Dominguez-Gutierrez, Augustus Anderson, Li-Jun Yang, Cuong Nguyen, Benjamin K. Canales
Summary: The objective of this study was to establish an enhanced expression system for secretion and purification of oxalate oxidase using Pichia pastoris. A codon optimized synthetic oxalate oxidase gene derived from barley was cloned into the expression vector downstream of a novel chimeric signal peptide. Active enzyme was purified to high purity using anion exchange chromatography. We have developed an enhanced oxalate oxidase expression system and method for purification.