CYTOKINE mRNA EXPRESSION IN THE LABIAL SALIVARY GLAND TISSUES FROM PATIENTS WITH PRIMARY SJöGREN'S SYNDROME

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Abstract
The pattern of cytokine mRNA expression in frozen minor salivary gland tissues from patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) (n = 12) and controls (n = 8) using an in situ hybridization technique and oligonucleotide probes of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) tumour necrosis factorα and β (TNF-α and TNF-β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-2 (IL-2) and its receptor (IL-2R), interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-10 (IL-10), interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and transforming growth factor-β(TGF-β) was examined. In addition to in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry was used to identify the subset of cells expressing IL-2 and IL-4 mRNA. Mononuclear cells involved in the minor salivary gland lesions of pSS patients were found to express mRNA for pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α and IL-lβ, and cytokinesinvolved in the regulation of B- and T-cell function (IL-2 and IL-6). In contrast, only three biopsies from patients with pSS express mRNA of inhibitory cytokines such as IFN-γ and TGF-β. Furthermore mRNA for IL-6 and IL-1βwas also detected in the glandular epithelial cells suggesting that these cells may play a role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune lesion in Sjögren's syndrome. IL-10 mRNA was not detected while IL-4 mRNA was primarily detected in naīve T-lymphocytes of patients with a mild and early lesion. These results suggest that local production of cytokines by both mononuclear and epithelial cells may be involved in the immune-mediated destruction of exocrine glands in patients with pSS.

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