title: Th17 cells play a critical role in the development of experimental Sjögren's syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although Th17 cells have been increasingly recognised as an important effector in various autoimmune diseases, their function in the pathogenesis of Sjögren's syndrome (SS) remains largely uncharacterised. This study aims to determine the role of Th17 cells in the development of experimental SS (ESS).
  
  
  METHODS
  The ESS was induced in wildtype and IL-17A knockout (IL-17 KO) C57BL/6 mice immunised with salivary glands (SG) proteins. Phenotypic analysis of immune cells in the draining cervical lymph nodes (CLN) and SG was performed by flow cytometry and immunofluorescence microscopy. To determine the role of Th17 cells in ESS, immunised IL-17 KO mice were adoptively transferred with in vitro-generated Th17 cells and monitored for SS development. The salivary flow rate was measured, whereas inflammatory infiltration and tissue destruction in SG were assessed by histopathology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  SG protein-immunised mice developed overt SS symptoms with increased Th17 cells detected in CLN and within lymphocytic foci in inflamed SG. Notably, immunised IL-17 KO mice were completely resistant for SS induction, showing no evidence of disease symptoms and histopathological changes in SG. Adoptive transfer of Th17 cells rapidly induced the onset of ESS in immunised IL-17 KO mice with markedly reduced saliva secretion, elevated autoantibody production and pronounced inflammation and tissue damage in SG.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings have defined a critical role of Th17 cells in the pathogenesis of ESS. Further studies may validate Th17 cell as a potential target for treating SS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Center of Infection and Immunology, Shenzhen Institute of Research and Innovation, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Xiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, School of Medical Science and Laboratory Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China.
authors.forename: Ke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rui
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Center of Infection and Immunology, Shenzhen Institute of Research and Innovation, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, School of Medical Science and Laboratory Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Center of Infection and Immunology, Shenzhen Institute of Research and Innovation, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Xiaohui
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, School of Medical Science and Laboratory Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China.
authors.forename: Shengjun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Center of Infection and Immunology, Shenzhen Institute of Research and Innovation, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: King-Hung
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.affiliation: Zhenjiang Key Laboratory of Medical Immunology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China.
authors.forename: Zhijun
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Jiao
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Vera Sau-Fong
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Chak Sing
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.affiliation: National Key Laboratory of Medical Immunology & Institute of Immunology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Xuetao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Center of Infection and Immunology, Shenzhen Institute of Research and Innovation, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Department of Immunology, School of Medical Science and Laboratory Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China.
authors.forename: Liwei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007114:Immunization; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000235:genetics; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000166:cytology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009333:Neck; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides / Q000276:immunology*; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000276:immunology*; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; C098680:Il17a protein, mouse; D020381:Interleukin-17; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides
keywords: Autoantibodies; Cytokines; Sjögren's Syndrome; T Cells