EGFR Mimotope Reduces the Expression of LYVE-1 in the Intestine from the M3R Immunized Mice

Abstract

Primary Sjogren’s syndrome (pSS) is a prototypic autoimmune disease characterized by immune injury to the salivary and lacrimal glands with other systemic manifestations. Recent studies showed the adaptive autoimmune responses induced by muscarinic acetylcholine 3 receptor (M3R) contribute to the dysfunction of exocrine glands in the pathogenesis of pSS. Although the M3R-induced mononuclear cells infiltration are observed in exocrine glands in pSS patients and animal models, the role of M3R in lymphatic vessels formation has not been explored. In current study, we found the expression of lymphatic vessel endothelial hyaluronan receptor 1 (LYVE-1) increased in intestine of the M3R immunized mice and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mimotope could inhibit this behavior. Our results suggested that the M3R/EGFR transactivation signaling may help mononuclear cells infiltrate in exocrine glands by promoting lymphangiogenesis.