Abstract
Purpose of this study was to evaluate the lymphocyte populations' distribution changes in peripheral blood of patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS). Lymphocyte populations' distribution changes in peripheral blood of pSS patients were investigated in 52 patients with pSS and in 28 healthy controls by flow cytometry. We found decreased absolute count of CD3+ T cell population in pSS patients. Analysis of CD4+ T cell population showed significant proportion and absolute count differences in pSS patient's blood with SSA/SSB antibodies (Abs) in comparison to controls. No significant differences were observed analyzing CD4+ and CD8+ Treg subpopulation. Proportion and absolute counts of Th17 cells were significantly lower in pSS patient's blood. Absolute counts of CD8+ T cells were significantly lower in pSS patients in comparison to controls and also impaired proportion and absolute counts of CD8+ subpopulations according to CD27+ and CD57+ were observed. Absolute counts of NKT and NK cells were decreased in pSS with Abs. B cells proportion was increased only in blood of pSS with Abs. Lymphocyte distribution impairment can be due to genetically determined lymphopenia or lymphocyte migration from periphery to inflammatory sites or/and increased susceptibility to apoptosis.
Highlights
Primary Sjogren’s syndrome is a systemic autoimmune disorder that affects secretory organs and is characterized by ocular and mouth dryness, fatigue, and pain, as well as extra-glandular manifestations that reveal the severity of this disorder [1, 2]
We found that absolute count of CD3+ T cell population was significantly decreased in Primary Sjogren’s syndrome (pSS) patients in comparison to healthy controls
Significant decrease of CD3+ cells was found in pSS Abs− (P = 0.027) and pSS Abs+ (P = 0.0002) groups when compared to controls; no differences in the CD3+ cells proportion of white blood cells (WBC) were found between pSS groups
Summary
Primary Sjogren’s syndrome (pSS) is a systemic autoimmune disorder that affects secretory organs and is characterized by ocular and mouth dryness, fatigue, and pain, as well as extra-glandular manifestations that reveal the severity of this disorder [1, 2]. It is suggested that BAFF is influential in driving antibody production in autoimmune diseases [2]. One of the objective classification criteria for pSS is serum SSA/SSB antibodies (Abs) [2]. Recent research studies suggest that these antibodies may be the biomarkers of disease activity [3]. Some studies indicate that anti-SSA/SSB seropositive patients have the increased amount of B-cell activation markers, such as BAFF, free immunoglobulin light chain, beta-2 microglobulin, and IgG [3,4,5,6,7]. Much attention has been focused on the relationship between innate responses and subsequent activation of specific adaptive-immunity in an attempt to understand subsequent immune dysregulation
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
