Low salivary dehydroepiandrosterone and androgen-regulated cysteine-rich secretory protein 3 levels in Sjögren's syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
Sjögren's syndrome (SS), an autoimmune disease of exocrine glands, typically starts at the time of adrenopause. We undertook this study to test the hypothesis that SS is characterized by an insufficient androgen effect at the target tissue level.


METHODS
We searched for androgen response elements (AREs) in the cysteine-rich secretory protein 3 (crisp-3) gene. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) responsiveness was experimentally studied using quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and immunofluorescence staining of human submandibular gland-derived acinar cells and labial salivary gland explants with or without DHEA. Finally, glandular and salivary CRISP-3 in healthy controls and SS patients was analyzed using immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Serum DHEA sulfate (DHEAS) and salivary DHEA levels were measured using a radioimmunometric method.


RESULTS
Literature analysis and a search for AREs in gene banks suggested androgen dependency of human CRISP-3, and this was verified by studies of human submandibular gland acinar cells cultured with or without DHEA, in which DHEA increased CRISP-3 messenger RNA (mRNA) levels (P = 0.018). This finding was confirmed by the results of DHEA stimulation of labial salivary gland explants. Glandular CRISP-3 mRNA and protein labeling was weak and diffuse, coupled with low secretion in saliva (mean +/- SEM 21.1 +/- 2.7 mug CRISP-3/15 minutes in SS patients versus 97.6 +/- 12.0 mug CRISP-3/15 minutes in healthy controls; P < 0.0001). Compared with healthy controls, SS patients had low serum levels of DHEAS (P = 0.008) and also low salivary levels of DHEA (mean +/- SEM 224 +/- 33 pmoles versus 419 +/- 98 pmoles; P = 0.005).


CONCLUSIONS
CRISP-3 pathology was seen in acini remote from lymphocyte foci and is apparently not secondary to local inflammation, but may represent some systemic effect in SS. Indeed, androgen deprivation in the salivary glands of SS patients is evidenced both by low salivary levels of DHEA and by low levels of DHEA-regulated CRISP-3. This may explain some of the characteristic features of SS.
Laine
Mikael
M
Helsinki University Central Hospital, and University of Helsinki, FIN-00029 HUS, Helsinki, Finland.
Porola
Pauliina
P
Udby
Lene
L
Kjeldsen
Lars
L
Cowland
Jack B
JB
Borregaard
Niels
N
Hietanen
Jarkko
J
Ståhle
Mona
M
Pihakari
Antti
A
Konttinen
Yrjö T
YT
D000328:Adult; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D020218:Response Elements; D012470:Salivary Glands, Minor / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides / Q000378:metabolism*; D029589:Seminal Plasma Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D013363:Submandibular Gland / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D015854:Up-Regulation
C489926:CRISP3 protein, human; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides; D029589:Seminal Plasma Proteins; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone