Sjögren's syndrome: an oligo-monoclonal B cell process.
Primary Sjögren's syndrome (1 degrees SS) has been considered as a privileged model for the study of autoimmunity and B-cell neoplasia. Previous and recently accumulated information have reinforced this view. The given higher incidence of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) in 1 degree SS patients, the presence of circulating monoclonal immunoglobulins, the detection of uniform immunoglobulin gene rearrangements and monoclonal B-cell expansions in the lymphocytic infiltrates of salivary gland, the increased levels of circulating CD5 positive B-cells and the association of these cells with the presence of monoclonal immunoglobulins from 1 degree SS, and finally the finding of shared cross reactive idiotypes on monoclonal immunoglobulins from 1 degree SS and B-cell malignancies, all provide evidence of common pathogenetic links between benign and malignant lymphoproliferation.
Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Ioannina, Greece.
A G
AG
Tzioufas
P D
PD
Katsikis
P Y
PY
Youinou
H M
HM
Moutsopoulos
D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000032:analysis; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D018956:CD5 Antigens; D003429:Cross Reactions; D006801:Humans; D007130:Immunoglobulin Idiotypes / Q000276:immunology; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000032:analysis; D008206:Lymphatic Diseases / Q000097:blood; D009369:Neoplasms; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000276:immunology; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*
D015703:Antigens, CD; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D018956:CD5 Antigens; D007130:Immunoglobulin Idiotypes; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor