title: Detection of IFN-γ+IL-17+ cells in salivary glands of patients with Sjögren's syndrome and Mikulicz's disease: Potential role of Th17•Th1 in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases.
abstract: Objective: Th17 cells, which mainly produce interleukin (IL)-17, have been suggested to play a critical role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. The plasticity of Th17 cells, in which these cells shift to a Th1 phenotype in the presence of IL-12, has recently been reported. However, the role of IL-17 in Sjögren's syndrome (SS) and Mikulicz's disease (MD) currently remains unknown.
  
  
  METHODS
  The submandibular salivary gland and lymph node of a MD patient and the salivary glands of 15 SS patients were collected. IFN-γ+ cells, IL-17+ cells, and IFN-γ+IL-17+ cells were detected by immunohistochemical staining.
  
  
  RESULTS
  IFN-γ+ cells, IL-17+ cells, and IFN-γ+IL-17+ cells were detected in the submandibular salivary gland and lymph node of the MD patient and salivary glands of the 15 SS patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IFN-γ+IL-17+cells in the salivary glands of patients were speculated to be Th1/Th17 cells in the present study. Th1/Th17 cells are known to be derived from Th17 cells and differentiate into Th1 cells, and IL-17-derived Th1 cells have been suggested to induce the deterioration of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). Thus, Th1/Th17 cells may play an important role in the pathogenesis of SS and MD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IFN-γ+, IFN-γ+IL-17+, and IL-17+ cells were detected in the submandibular salivary gland and lymph node of a MD patient and the salivary glands of 15 SS patients.
authors: Institute of Rheumatology, Tokyo Women's Medical University.
authors: Yuki
authors: Y
authors: Nanke
authors: Tsuyoshi
authors: T
authors: Kobashigawa
authors: Toru
authors: T
authors: Yago
authors: Manabu
authors: M
authors: Kawamoto
authors: Hisashi
authors: H
authors: Yamanaka
authors: Shigeru
authors: S
authors: Kotake
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001171:Arthritis, Juvenile / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D000066670:Cell Plasticity / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000276:immunology; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D008875:Middle Aged; D008882:Mikulicz' Disease / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology*; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D020381:Interleukin-17; D018664:Interleukin-12; D007371:Interferon-gamma