1. Insight into pathogenesis of Sjögren's syndrome: Dissection on autoimmune infiltrates and epithelial cells.
- Author
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Goules AV, Kapsogeorgou EK, and Tzioufas AG
- Subjects
- Dendritic Cells immunology, Dendritic Cells pathology, Humans, Inflammation, Killer Cells, Natural immunology, Killer Cells, Natural pathology, Leukocytes pathology, Lymphocytes immunology, Lymphocytes pathology, Macrophages immunology, Macrophages pathology, Salivary Glands, Minor cytology, Salivary Glands, Minor pathology, Sjogren's Syndrome pathology, Autoimmunity immunology, Epithelial Cells immunology, Leukocytes immunology, Salivary Glands, Minor immunology, Sjogren's Syndrome immunology
- Abstract
Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is a chronic autoimmune disease with broad clinical spectrum, extending from benign exocrinopathy to severe systemic disease and lymphoma development. The glandular and extraglandular dysfunction of SS is associated with lymphocytic infiltrates that invade the epithelial structures of affected organs. The in-depth study of autoimmune lesions in the minor salivary glands (MSG), which are the major target-organ of SS responses, revealed that the lymphocytic infiltrates vary in severity and composition among SS-patients, are full-blown at diagnosis and remain unchanged thereafter. Although the pathogenetic pathways underlying SS have not yet elucidated, it is well-established that glandular epithelial cells are central regulators of local autoimmune responses. Moreover, chronic inflammation affects epithelial function and phenotype, which strengthens or weakens their immunoregulatory/secretory function, leading to deterioration of autoimmune phenomena. Herein, the current findings regarding the autoimmune lesions, the role of epithelial cells and their interaction with infiltrating lymphocytic cells are discussed., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)
- Published
- 2017
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