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KARIN S.A. BARCELLOS, SUELY NONOGAKI, MILVIA M.S.S. ENOKIHARA, MIRIAM S. TEIXEIRA, and LUÍS E.C. ANDRADE
ABSTRACT. Methods. La/SSB, Ro/SSA 60, and Ro/SSA 52 protein expression was studied by immunohistochemistry in MSG from 26 patients with pSS and 16 controls. mRNA expression was determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction in MSG of 10 patients with pSS and 7 controls. Results. La/SSB and Ro/SSA 60, but not Ro/SSA 52, mRNA expression was higher in samples from patients with pSS compared to controls (p < 0.05). La/SSB protein had higher expression in the cytoplasm of ductal cells than in the cytoplasm of mucous acinar cells in patients with pSS (p = 0.013) but not in controls. Ro/SSA 60 had higher expression in the cytoplasm of ductal cells than in the cytoplasm of serous acinar cells in patients with pSS (p = 0.006) but not in controls. The Ro/SSA 52 expression pattern was similar in patients and controls. There was no association between circulating autoantibodies to Ro/SSA or La/SSB and the aberrant expression of the cognate autoantigens. Conclusion. The increased Ro/SSA 60 and La/SSB mRNA expression in MSG of patients with pSS as well as the differential Ro/SSA 60 and La/SSB protein expression in ductal cells of MSG in patients with pSS suggest that these these 2 autoantigens, but not Ro/SSA 52, are probably involved in triggering and maintaining the tissue-specific autoimmune response in pSS MSG and may contribute to the antigen-driven immune response and local autoantibody production in pSS. (J Rheumatol 2007; 34:1283-92) Key Indexing Terms:
SJÖGREN'S SYNDROME
From the Rheumatology, Pathology, and Stomatology Divisions, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), and Adolpho Lutz Institute, São Paulo, Brazil. Supported by FAPESP, the São Paulo State Agency for Research Support, grant 02.12898-7, and by the Research Funds of the Brazilian Society of Rheumatology (awarded the Luiz Vertzman prize). Dr. Andrade is supported by CNPq (National Council of Technological and Scientific Development). K.S.A. Barcellos, BSc, PhD; L.E.C. Andrade, MD, PhD, Rheumatology Division; M.M.S.S. Enokihara, MD, PhD, Pathology Division; M.S. Teixeira, MD, PhD, Stomatology Division; S. Nonogaki, BSc, Adolpho Lutz Institute. Address reprint requests to Dr. L.E.C. Andrade, Rheumatology Division, Rua Botucatu 740, São Paulo, SP, 04023-062, Brazil. E-mail: luis@reumato.epm.br Accepted for publication February 6, 2007. |
