title: Decreased expression of thymic stromal lymphopoietin in salivary glands of patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome is associated with increased disease activity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin (TSLP) is a potent immunomodulatory cytokine involved in Th2- and Th17-mediated immune responses in different autoimmune diseases. TSLP expression in relation to disease activity was studied in salivary glands of primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) patients as compared to non-SS sicca (nSS) controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tissue sections of minor salivary glands from pSS and nSS patients were stained with monoclonal antibodies against human TSLP, CD3, CD19 and cytokeratin high molecular weight (CK HMW) or stained for Alcian blue to detect mucus production. The number of TSLP-expressing cells was quantified and expression was correlated to local and systemic disease parameters.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The number of TSLP-expressing cells was significantly lower in pSS patients than in nSS controls and correlated with a range of disease markers. In pSS patients, TSLP was expressed outside of lymphocytic infiltrates at sections that also encompassed high numbers of intact acinar cells. This difference was independent of tissue destruction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Reduced TSLP expression in pSS patients is associated with increased local and systemic inflammatory markers. Loss of TSLP expression may contribute to Th1/Th17-associated immunopathology in pSS, in line with previous studies demonstrating that TSLP promotes a protective Th2 milieu at mucosal sites.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Rheumatology & Clinical Immunology and.|b Laboratory of Translational Immunology , University Medical Center Utrecht , Utrecht , The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Maarten R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Hillen
authors.affiliation: a Department of Rheumatology & Clinical Immunology and.
authors.forename: Aike A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Kruize
authors.affiliation: a Department of Rheumatology & Clinical Immunology and.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bikker
authors.affiliation: a Department of Rheumatology & Clinical Immunology and.
authors.forename: Marion
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wenting-van Wijk
authors.affiliation: a Department of Rheumatology & Clinical Immunology and.|b Laboratory of Translational Immunology , University Medical Center Utrecht , Utrecht , The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Timothy R D J
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Radstake
authors.affiliation: a Department of Rheumatology & Clinical Immunology and.|b Laboratory of Translational Immunology , University Medical Center Utrecht , Utrecht , The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Cornelis E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Hack
authors.affiliation: a Department of Rheumatology & Clinical Immunology and.
authors.forename: Floris P J G
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Lafeber
authors.affiliation: a Department of Rheumatology & Clinical Immunology and.|b Laboratory of Translational Immunology , University Medical Center Utrecht , Utrecht , The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Joel A G
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: van Roon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D000094632:Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D016207:Cytokines; D000094632:Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin
keywords: Epithelial cells; Immunopathology; Lymphocytes; Sjögren’s syndrome; Thymic stromal lymphopoietin