In Situ Characterization of the Cellular Infiltrate in Labial and Palatine Glands in Sjögren's Syndrome

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Abstract
The inflammatory cells in the minor salivary glands in situ in 11 patients with Sjögren's syndrome were characterized by using intracellular markers for T lymphocytes, plasma cells, mononuclear phagocytes and granulocytes. The methods used to demonstrate the markers were optimized histochemical and immunoperoxidase techniques which did not disturb the simultaneous morphological study of the marker-positive cells. Acid alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase (ANAE)-positive T lymphocytes accounted for 33±22%, mononuclear phagocytes for 8±4% and ANAE-negative (B) lymphocytes for 59 ±23% of all cells in the periductal lymphocyte-rich infiltrates, indicating great variations between individual patients. However, variations between labial and palatine glands in individual patients were usually less than 10%, indicating that the disease was at the same stage. Plasma cells were located peripherally to the lymphocytic foci and situated between the glandular acini. Equal proportions of plasma cells containing K-light chains (34±8%) and λ-light chains (31±10%) were seen in individual patients, indicating polyclonal B lymphocyte activation. The results indicate differences in the local pathogenetic mechanisms or stage of disease in individual patients with Sjögren's syndrome.