title: Cytokine mRNA expression in the labial salivary gland tissues from patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome.
abstract: The pattern of cytokine mRNA expression in frozen minor salivary gland tissues from patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) (n = 12) and controls (n = 8) using an in situ hybridization technique and oligonucleotide probes of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), tumour necrosis factor alpha and beta (TNF-alpha and TNF-beta), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-2 (IL-2) and its receptor (IL-2R), interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-10 (IL-10), interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) was examined. In addition to in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry was used to identify the subset of cells expressing IL-2 and IL-4 mRNA. Mononuclear cells involved in the minor salivary gland lesions of pSS patients were found to express mRNA for pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta, and cytokines involved in the regulation of B- and T-cell function (IL-2 and IL-6). In contrast, only three biopsies from patients with pSS express mRNA of inhibitory cytokines such as IFN-gamma and TGF-beta. Furthermore mRNA for IL-6 and IL-1 beta was also detected in the glandular epithelial cells suggesting that these cells may play a role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune lesion in Sjögren's syndrome. IL-10 mRNA was not detected while IL-4 mRNA was primarily detected in naïve T-lymphocytes of patients with a mild and early lesion. These results suggest that local production of cytokines by both mononuclear and epithelial cells may be involved in the immune-mediated destruction of exocrine glands in patients with pSS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, University of Ioannina, Greece.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Boumba
authors.forename: F N
authors.initials: FN
authors.lastname: Skopouli
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Moutsopoulos
mesh_terms: D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008046:Lip; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000235:genetics; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000378:metabolism*; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2