Detection of anti-Ro/SSA and anti-La/SSB autoantibody-producing cells in salivary glands from patients with Sjögren's syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate and identify the presence of cells producing anti-Ro/SSA and anti-La/SSB autoantibodies in salivary glands from patients with Sjögren's syndrome (SS).


METHODS
Submucosal salivary gland biopsy samples from 10 SS patients (8 with and 2 without circulating Ro and La autoantibodies) and 14 control subjects were evaluated. Frozen tissue sections were immunostained by an avidin-biotin complex technique, using biotinylated recombinant Ro and La proteins as detection reagents. Autoantibody levels in SS patient sera were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.


RESULTS
Cells producing autoantibodies to the Ro 52-kd, Ro 60-kd, and La proteins were recorded in 8, 6, and 7 of the 10 SS patient biopsy samples, respectively. Samples from the 2 SS patients without circulating Ro and La autoantibodies were negative for these autoantibody-producing cells, as were all control biopsy samples. A strong positive correlation between the presence of autoantibodies in sera and the presence of autoantibody-producing cells in glandular biopsy tissues was evident. The number of autoantibody-producing cells and the serum autoantibody levels were also correlated (r(s)=0.94, P < 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
Using a novel technique, we have demonstrated the presence of Ro and La autoantibody-producing cells in salivary gland biopsy tissues from patients with SS. These findings indicate that anti-Ro/ SSA and anti-La/SSB autoantibodies are produced and are present at sites of inflammation and indicate their potential involvement in the autoimmune exocrinopathy of this disease.
Tengnér
P
P
Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Halse
A K
AK
Haga
H J
HJ
Jonsson
R
R
Wahren-Herlenius
M
M
D000918:Antibody Specificity; D000921:Antibody-Producing Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D020733:RNA, Small Cytoplasmic; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins / Q000276:immunology*; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000166:cytology*; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology*; D000097585:SS-B Antigen; D000099207:SS-A Antigen
D001323:Autoantibodies; D001324:Autoantigens; D020733:RNA, Small Cytoplasmic; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins; D000097585:SS-B Antigen; D000099207:SS-A Antigen; C116006:RO60 protein, human