IL-21 and Sjögren's syndrome

R Hal Scofield

doi:10.1186/ar3518

Abstract

Treatment of Sjögren's syndrome is almost entirely symptomatic. A lack of true understanding of the underlying immunological pathology of the disease prevents directed therapy. Interleukin-21 (IL-21) is elevated in the serum of patients with this disease and is expressed by the lymphocytes infiltrating the salivary glands. The known functions of IL-21 in facilitating differentiation, proliferation, and survival of both B and T cells mesh well with the findings in Sjögren's syndrome. Demonstration of IL-21 as a fundamental aspect of the pathophysiology of Sjögren's syndrome could lead to the development of anti-IL-21 therapy for this disease.

Highlights

Treatment of Sjögren’s syndrome is almost entirely symptomatic
*Correspondence: hal-scofield@omrf.ouhsc.edu 1Departments of Medicine and Pathology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 1000 North Lincoln Blvd, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA Full list of author information is available at the end of the article
Proliferation of both naïve and memory CD8+ T cells as well as activation, proliferation, and survival of CD4+ T cells are supported by IL-21

Summary

Introduction

Treatment of Sjögren’s syndrome is almost entirely symptomatic. A lack of true understanding of the underlying immunological pathology of the disease prevents directed therapy. There is no proper therapy for Sjögren’s syndrome. There are therapies to treat the symptoms, but none that treats the underlying patholophysiology. There may be an obvious underlying reason that we cannot target the immunological or biological cause of Sjögren’s syndrome.

Results

Conclusion