[Immunopathology of labial glands of patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the expression of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cell (Treg) in labial gland (SG) of the patients with Sjögren's syndrome (SS).


METHODS
Specimens of labial gland were obtained from 25 primary SS patients and 6 healthy controls during biopsy to be made into serial sections. Immunohistochemistry was used to examine the expression of CD25, CD4, CD8, CD68 and Foxp3.


RESULTS
Infiltration of a great amount of mononuclear cells and atrophy of part of the labial glands were seen in the specimens from SS patients. The percentage of CD4+ T cells in the infiltrating leucocytes of the SS patients was (44.2 +/- 20.5)%, significantly higher than that of the controls [(9.2 +/- 6.0)%, P < 0.01]. CD25 and Foxp3 were completely absent in the specimens from both the controls and SS patients.


CONCLUSIONS
CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cell lacks in the labial gland of SS patients. CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells play a key role in the progression of SS.
Wang
Xiao-Qiu
XQ
Department of Pathology, Anhui Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.
Li
Xiao-Mei
XM
Li
Xiang-Pei
XP
Qian
Long
L
Wang
Guo-Sheng
GS
Chen
Ke
K
Wang
Yi-Ping
YP
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic / Q000032:analysis; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit / Q000032:analysis; D008875:Middle Aged; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology; D000097382:CD68 Molecule
D015703:Antigens, CD; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit; C067980:CD68 antigen, human; D000097382:CD68 Molecule; C418974:FOXP3 protein, human