title: Emerging avenues linking inflammation, angiogenesis and Sjögren's syndrome.
abstract: Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is an autoimmune disease characterized by an inflammatory mononuclear infiltration and the destruction of epithelial cells of the lachrymal and salivary glands. The aetiology is unknown. The expression "autoimmune epithelitis" has been proposed as an alternative to SS, in view of the emerging central role of the epithelial cells in the disease pathogenesis. At the biomolecular level, the epithelial cells play an important role in triggering the autoimmune condition via antigen presentation, apoptosis, and chemokine and cytokines release. Inflammation and angiogenesis are frequently coupled in the pathological conditions associated to autoimmune diseases, and an angiogenic imbalance contributes to the pathogenesis of a number of inflammatory disorders. This work reviews the current knowledge of the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of the inflammatory reactions that characterize SS. The literature and our data on the role of angiogenesis in the pathophysiology of the disease are discussed.
authors: Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Section of Human Anatomy and Histology, University of Bari Medical School, Bari, Italy. sabrina.lisi@uniba.it
authors: Sabrina
authors: S
authors: Lisi
authors: Margherita
authors: M
authors: Sisto
authors: Massimo
authors: M
authors: D'Amore
authors: Dario Domenico
authors: DD
authors: Lofrumento
authors: Domenico
authors: D
authors: Ribatti
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D018836:Inflammation Mediators