Defining a Mechanism for the Histopathological Changes Seen in Salivary Gland Biopsies of Patients with Sjogren's Syndrome: A Mini-Review

Abstract

Insights into the role that inflammatory mediators such as lymphocytes and matrix metalloproteinases play in remodeling of the basement membranes of salivary gland cells in patients with Sjögren’s syndrome has led to several observations revealing irregular thickening and thinning of the basement membrane. These observations have revealed that the underlying mechanism for these irregularities in thickness may partly be due to laminin degradation in the basement membrane seen coincidentally along with the intracellular accumulation of laminin in salivary gland ductal and acinar cells.