Cytokine and adhesion molecule expression in the minor salivary glands of patients with Sjögren's syndrome and chronic sialoadenitis.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the role of cytokines and cell adhesion molecules in the pathogenesis of Sjögren's syndrome (SS).


METHODS
Using an indirect immunoperoxidase technique we assessed the expression of the cytokines interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), interleukin-8 (IL-8), transforming growth factor beta (TGF beta) and granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), of the adhesion molecules intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), lymphocyte function associated antigen-1 (LFA-1), the activated molecular form of LFA-1 (NKI-L16), CD2, and LFA-3, and of a panel of cellular markers in the minor salivary glands.


RESULTS
In SS and chronic sialoadenitis (CS), the ductal epithelial cells and acini expressed all the cytokines examined. The percentage of glandular mononuclear cells which stained positive for cytokines did not differ significantly between SS and CS. NKI-L16 was detected on 33.6 (SD 10.1)% and 15.3 (4.3)% of LFA-1 cells in SS and CS, respectively (p < 0.002).


CONCLUSIONS
SS and CS did not differ in the pattern of cytokines examined. The characteristic cell clustering seen in the salivary glands in SS may be caused by the upregulation of NKI-L16.
Cauli
A
A
Rheumatology Unit, United Medical School, Guy's Hospital, London, United Kingdom.
Yanni
G
G
Pitzalis
C
C
Challacombe
S
S
Panayi
G S
GS
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000032:analysis*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D016207:Cytokines / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007378:Interleukins / Q000032:analysis; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets; D008875:Middle Aged; D012470:Salivary Glands, Minor / Q000276:immunology*; D012793:Sialadenitis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000032:analysis
D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D016207:Cytokines; D007378:Interleukins; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor