title: Sjögren's syndrome and chemokines.
abstract: Interferon (IFN)-γ-induced protein 10 (IP-10) and its receptor, chemokine (C-X-C motif) receptor (CXCR)3, appear to contribute to the pathogenesis of Sjögren's syndrome (SS). The expression of IP-10 and CXCR3 is increased, in salivary glands from SS patients, both in the ductal epithelium adjacent to lymphoid infiltrates and in lymphocytes. IFN-γ induces the production of high levels of IP-10 and monokine induced by IFN-γ (MIG) proteins from cultured SS salivary epithelial cells. Under the influence of IFN-γ, IP-10 secreted by salivary cells, recruits T helper (Th)1 lymphocytes that may be responsible for enhanced IFN-γ, which in turn stimulates a further IP-10 secretion from epithelial cells creating an amplification feedback loop and perpetuating the autoimmune process. Determination of high level of IP-10 in tears and saliva is therefore a marker of a Th1 orientated immune response. In experimental settings IP-10 antagonists can ameliorate the progression of autoimmune sialadenitis, providing a new therapeutic approach to SS. Further studies are needed to investigate whether IP-10 is a novel therapeutic target in SS in humans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ruffilli
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D054357:Chemokine CXCL10 / Q000378:metabolism*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000502:physiology; D054367:Receptors, CXCR3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism*; D013666:Tears / Q000378:metabolism; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C114753:CXCL10 protein, human; C515187:CXCR3 protein, human; D054357:Chemokine CXCL10; D054367:Receptors, CXCR3; D007371:Interferon-gamma
keywords: Autoimmunity; CXCL10; CXCR3; Sjögren’s syndrome