Effects of preceding sialadenitis on the development of autoimmunity against salivary gland.
OBJECTIVE
The mechanism underlying the onset and development of autoimmune diseases such as Sjogren's syndrome is not well understood. Here, we examined the effects of preceding inflammation of the salivary gland at the onset of autoimmunity against the salivary gland.


METHODS
One side of the submandibular gland duct was ligated in mice and the effect on the contralateral gland was investigated. After histological evaluation with hematoxylin and eosin staining, the presence of autoantibodies and immune compounds was examined.


RESULTS
In all five strains of mice that were used, the salivary gland of the ligated side showed severe inflammation and atrophic change. In two mouse strains (SJL/J and PL/J), mild sialadenitis was observed on the non-ligated side 8 weeks after ligation. Autoantibodies reacting to the salivary gland were detected in three mouse strains (C3H/He, SJL/J, and PL/J). Immune complex was also detected in the duct basement membrane.


CONCLUSIONS
The results indicate that the autoimmune mechanism is activated by the transient inflammation in the salivary gland under a specific genetic background.
Ohno
K
K
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsuruma-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan.
Hattori
T
T
Kagami
H
H
Ueda
M
M
D000818:Animals; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000032:analysis; D001284:Atrophy; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis; D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000276:immunology*; D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000276:immunology; D004396:Coloring Agents; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D008026:Ligation; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D018987:Salivary Ducts / Q000276:immunology; D012793:Sialadenitis / Q000276:immunology*; D013363:Submandibular Gland / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D013997:Time Factors
D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D001323:Autoantibodies; D004396:Coloring Agents; D003176:Complement C3; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D007074:Immunoglobulin G