Critical Reviews in Oral Biology & Medicine, Vol 12, 244-251, Copyright © 2001 by International & American Associations for Dental Research

ARTICLES

Pathogenetic factors in Sjogren's syndrome: recent developments

T. R. Esch
Department of Immunology, Forsyth Institute, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston, MA 02115, USA. tesch@forsyth.org

The study of pathogenetic factors in Sjogren's syndrome [SS] has been problematic, given the overall paucity of coherent data that integrate basic research with clinical findings. The presumed autoimmune nature of SS suggests T-cells, autoantibodies, and cytokines as possible immune factors in the initiation and progression of SS. Recent work on programmed cell death (apoptosis) in SS and its models suggests this as a fourth potential mechanism of disease. These four areas of SS research are reviewed with an emphasis on the most recent findings related to mechanisms of disease. New findings confirm the potential for antigen presentation to T-cells in the salivary glands, as well as involvement of other adhesion molecules with respect to T-cell functions. Restrictions on the receptor repertoires of infiltrating T-cells are discussed, as are new findings on antigenic specificities of these cells. New findings on the specificities of autoantibodies observed in SS are reviewed with an eye toward potential mechanisms for depression of exocrine secretory capacity. Stimulating new findings concerning cytokine production in salivary and lacrimal gland are noted. Particular points of interest with regard to apoptosis include the wide range of values obtained for apoptotic activity in SS and its models, and potential means of resolving discongruent results and the study of factors influencing apoptosis are discussed.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S. Selvam, P. B. Thomas, H. J. Gukasyan, A. S. Yu, D. Stevenson, M. D. Trousdale, A. K. Mircheff, J. E. Schechter, R. E. Smith, and S. C. Yiu Transepithelial bioelectrical properties of rabbit acinar cell monolayers on polyester membrane scaffolds Am J Physiol Cell Physiol, October 1, 2007; 293(4): C1412 - C1419. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Z. Zhu, D. Stevenson, J. E. Schechter, A. K. Mircheff, T. Ritter, L. Labree, and M. D. Trousdale Prophylactic Effect of IL-10 Gene Transfer on Induced Autoimmune Dacryoadenitis Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., May 1, 2004; 45(5): 1375 - 1381. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]