title: Sex differences in Sjögren's syndrome: a comprehensive review of immune mechanisms.
abstract: Autoimmune diseases (ADs) are estimated to affect between 5 and 8 % of the US population, and approximately 80 % of these patients are women. Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is an AD that occurs predominately in women over men (16:1). The hallmark characteristic of SS is diminished secretory production from the primary exocrine gland and the lacrimal or salivary glands resulting in symptoms of dry eye and mouth. The disease is believed to be mediated by an inflammatory and autoantibody response directed against salivary and lacrimal gland tissues. This review will examine the literature on sex differences in the immune response of patients and animal models of Sjögren's syndrome in order to gain a better understanding of disease pathogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205 USA ; Reumatologia, Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Specialita Mediche, Sapienza Universita di Roma, 00161 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Jessica E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Brandt
authors.affiliation: Reumatologia, Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Specialita Mediche, Sapienza Universita di Roma, 00161 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Priori
authors.affiliation: Reumatologia, Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Specialita Mediche, Sapienza Universita di Roma, 00161 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Valesini
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205 USA ; Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Road, Jacksonville, FL 32224 USA.
authors.forename: DeLisa
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fairweather
keywords: Autoantibodies; Autoimmune disease; Inflammation; Lymphoma; Sex differences; Sjögren’s syndrome