title: D-mannose and N-acetylglucosamine moieties and their respective binding sites in salivary glands of Sjögren's syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is an autoimmune exocrinopathy. The mannose binding lectin (MBL), a pluripotent molecule of the innate immune system, is involved in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. We investigated whether specific ligands for MBL and MBL related structures could be reliable markers in cases of SS.
  
  
  METHODS
  The labial salivary glands of 19 patients fulfilling the diagnostic criteria for primary (n=11) and secondary SS (n=8) were studied. Seven healthy women served as controls. Computer assisted microscopy was employed to determine quantitatively the percentage of positive structures (acini, ducts, and interlobular connective tissue), the staining intensity, and the level of staining heterogeneity for 4 glycohistochemical probes including wheat germ agglutinin and concanavalin (Con A) as lectins, and mannose and N-acetylglucosamine as parts of neoglycoproteins. The data were evaluated by discriminant analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The data strongly suggest that MBL related structures, if not MBL itself, could play distinct roles in the pathogenesis of primary versus secondary SS. Further, quantitative determination of the level of expression of D-mannose and N-acetylglucosamine and their respective binding sites in labial salivary gland acini offers a powerful diagnostic tool for distinguishing primary from secondary SS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In SS labial salivary glands, determination of the level of acceptor sites for wheat germ agglutinin, Con A, D-mannose, and N-acetylglucosamine provides information on the roles played by glycoforms in SS. The methodology and data described in this paper should provide pathologists with objective diagnostic markers for SS. Our results should enhance the biological understanding of this pathology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Erasmus Academic Hospital, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Steinfeld
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Penaloza
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ribaï
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Decaestecker
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Danguy
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Gabius
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Salmon
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Appelboom
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kiss
mesh_terms: D000117:Acetylglucosamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001665:Binding Sites; D015415:Biomarkers; D005260:Female; D006001:Glycoconjugates / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D037102:Lectins / Q000378:metabolism; D008024:Ligands; D008297:Male; D008358:Mannose / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012470:Salivary Glands, Minor / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D006001:Glycoconjugates; D037102:Lectins; D008024:Ligands; D008358:Mannose; D000117:Acetylglucosamine