title: The Significance of Ectopic Germinal Centers in the Minor Salivary Gland of Patients with Sjögren's Syndrome.
abstract: We investigated the clinical and biological significance of germinal centers (GC) present in the minor salivary glands of patients with Sjögren's syndrome (SS). Minor salivary gland tissue biopsies from 93 patients with SS were used to identify GC-like structures, which were confirmed by CD21-positive follicular dendritic cell networks. Patients were compared based upon sociodemographics, glandular and extraglandular manifestations, and laboratory findings including autoantibody profiles, complement, and immunoglobulin levels; EULAR SS disease activity index (ESSDAI) and SS disease damage index (SSDDI) were also measured. GC-like structures were observed in 28 of 93 SS patients (30.1%). Mean focus scores and CRP levels were significantly higher in GC-positive patients than in GC-negative patients; GC-positive patients also exhibit a higher prevalence of rheumatoid factor and anti-SS-A/Ro antibodies compared to GC-negative patients. No differences in glandular or extra-glandular manifestations were evident between groups. In conclusion, SS patients with GC-like structures in the minor salivary glands exhibited laboratory profiles significantly different from those of their GC-negative counterparts. Long-term follow-up of these patients will be necessary to determine whether these laboratory abnormalities are predictive of clinical outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School & Hospital, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Kyung-Eun
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-1048-9068
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School & Hospital, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Ji-Hyoun
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-1113-2001
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School & Hospital, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Yi-Rang
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-6484-776X
authors.initials: YR
authors.lastname: Yim
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School & Hospital, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Ji-Eun
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-1074-2836
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School & Hospital, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Jeong-Won
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-6945-0398
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School & Hospital, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Lihui
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-6385-0825
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School & Hospital, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Dong-Jin
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-8709-987X
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School & Hospital, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Tae-Jong
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-2871-1635
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School & Hospital, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Yong-Wook
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-6937-7119
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Chonnam National University Medical School & Hospital, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Kyung Chul
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-2788-1851
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology Chonnam National University Medical School & Hospital, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Ji Shin
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-0911-4587
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School & Hospital, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Shin-Seok
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-6810-7355
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D018858:Germinal Center / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017464:Receptors, Complement 3d / Q000378:metabolism; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012470:Salivary Glands, Minor / Q000473:pathology*; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D017464:Receptors, Complement 3d; D002097:C-Reactive Protein
keywords: Biopsy; Germinal Center; Salivary Glands; Sjögren’s Syndrome
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