Association of BAFF and IL-17A with subphenotypes of primary Sjögren's syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
Primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) is an autoimmune disease affecting exocrine glands. Both autoreactive T cells and B cells are involved in the development of pSS, but their exact contribution to the pathogenesis is not clear. Here, we aimed to investigate the association of B-cell activating factor (BAFF) and interleukin (IL)-17A with subphenotypes of pSS.


METHODS
Peripheral blood samples were collected from 31 pSS patients and 28 healthy controls. The serum levels of BAFF and IL-17A were quantified by sandwich ELISA.


RESULTS
The increased circulating BAFF levels are associated with higher immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels (P = 0.0167) and anti-Ro/SS antigen A autoantibody (P = 0.032), while the elevated circulating levels of IL-17A are associated with lower C3 levels (P = 0.0213) and higher focus score of salivary gland tissue (P = 0.002).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results show that BAFF and IL-17A are associated with different subphenotypes of pSS, suggesting both humoral and cellular immune response are involved in the pathogenesis of pSS.
Laboratory of Autoimmunity, Medical College of Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.
Fengyuan
F
Deng
Rheumatology Department of the First Afflicted Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.
Juan
J
Chen
Laboratory of Autoimmunity, Medical College of Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.
Junfeng
J
Zheng
Laboratory of Autoimmunity, Medical College of Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.
Yan
Y
Chen
Laboratory of Autoimmunity, Medical College of Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.
Renliang
R
Huang
Laboratory of Autoimmunity, Medical College of Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.
Junping
J
Yin
Department of Clinical Laboratory, Xiamen University Hospital, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.
Xing
X
Gao
Rheumatology Department of the First Afflicted Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.
Qingyan
Q
Lin
Rheumatology Department of the First Afflicted Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.
Chaoyang
C
Huang
Rheumatology Department of the First Afflicted Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.
Yushan
Y
Gao
Laboratory of Autoimmunity, Medical College of Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.|Division of Biochemical Immunology, Research Center Borstel, Borstel, Germany.
Xinhua
X
Yu
Eye Institute and Affiliated Xiamen Eye Center of Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China.
Zuguo
Z
Liu
D000328:Adult; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000097:blood; D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000032:analysis; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000473:pathology; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D015854:Up-Regulation
D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor; D015415:Biomarkers; C038245:C3 protein, human; D003176:Complement C3; C508717:IL17A protein, human; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D020381:Interleukin-17; C035356:SS-A antibodies; C505719:TNFSF13B protein, human
B-cell activating factor; interleukin-17A; primary Sjögren's syndrome