title: Salivary cytokine profiles in primary Sjögren's syndrome differ from those in non-Sjögren sicca in terms of TNF-α levels and Th-1/Th-2 ratios.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare salivary cytokine profiles in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS), non-SS sicca controls, and non-sicca controls, and to investigate whether cytokine levels are correlated with clinical parameters of pSS patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Un-stimulated whole saliva samples were obtained from pSS patients (n=30) classified according to the criteria of the American European Consensus Group. Age- and gender-matched non-SS sicca patients (n=30) and non-sicca subjects (n=25) served as controls. Salivary IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-1, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12p40, and IL-17 levels were measured using a multiplex Luminex® bead-based assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  pSS patients and non-SS sicca controls had significantly lower salivary flow rates (SFRs) than non-sicca controls, and pSS patients showed a more profound decrease than non-SS sicca controls. In addition, pSS patients and non-SS sicca controls had higher levels of IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-1, IL-4, IL-10, IL-12p40, and IL-17 in their saliva than non-sicca controls. Salivary TNF-α levels were higher in pSS patients than in non-SS sicca controls. Th-1/Th-2 ratios, represented by INF-γ/IL-4 and TNF-α /IL-4 ratios, were significantly higher in pSS patients than in non-SS sicca controls. SFR was found to be correlated with INF-γ/IL-4 ratio (r=0.411 p=0.024), and focus score to be correlated with TNF-α/IL-4 ratio (r=0.581, p=0.023) in pSS patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Th-1, Th-2, and Th17 cytokine levels were found to be elevated in the saliva of pSS patients compared with non-sicca controls. However, considerable overlap was observed between the salivary cytokine levels of pSS patients and of non-SS sicca controls. The features that most differentiated pSS and non-SS sicca were higher TNF-α levels and Th-1/Th-2 ratios. Th-1/Th-2 ratio was also found to be correlated with the clinical parameters of pSS.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea. kangeh@snubh.org
authors: Eun Ha
authors: EH
authors: Kang
authors: Yun Jong
authors: YJ
authors: Lee
authors: Joon Young
authors: JY
authors: Hyon
authors: Pill Young
authors: PY
authors: Yun
authors: Yeong Wook
authors: YW
authors: Song
mesh_terms: D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000378:metabolism; D007638:Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012636:Secretory Rate; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma