Temporal histological changes in lacrimal and major salivary glands in mouse models of Sjogren’s syndrome

Jingxiu Xuan,Oleh Pankewycz,Lakshmanan Suresh,Kishore Malyavantham,Long Shen,Julian L Ambrus

doi:10.1186/1472-6831-13-51

Abstract

BackgroundEvidence in imaging studies suggests that there may be differences in glandular involvement in Sjogren’s syndrome (SS) depending on the stage of the disease. No detailed histological studies are available to show if there are any such difference in glandular involvement at various time periods and stages of SS. This cross sectional study examines the inflammatory changes in mouse models of SS at various ages.MethodsThe histological changes in major salivary and lacrimal glands were studied at ages of 3, 6, 9, 12, 15 and 18 months in both sexes in well characterized mouse models of SS, non-obese diabetes mouse and Interleukin-14 alpha-transgenic mice.ResultsOur results indicate that early inflammation concurrently occur in submandibular and lacrimal glands around the age of 6 weeks. Parotid glands are involved much later in the course of SS with less severe inflammation. Sublingual glands are rarely involved.ConclusionsOur conclusions are that SS may be an organ specific disease with early inflammation occurring in submandibular and lacrimal glands, followed by the parotid. Non organ specific events occur in later courses of the disease. The understanding of the disease progression is important in tailoring early local therapeutic interventions before complete destruction of salivary and lacrimal glands.

Highlights

Evidence in imaging studies suggests that there may be differences in glandular involvement in Sjogren’s syndrome (SS) depending on the stage of the disease
Sjogren’s syndrome (SS) is an autoimmune mediated disorder characterized by inflammation and dysfunction of salivary and lacrimal glands resulting in dryness of the mouth and eyes [1]
The control mice did not show any inflammation in the major salivary glands of any time points

Summary

Introduction

Evidence in imaging studies suggests that there may be differences in glandular involvement in Sjogren’s syndrome (SS) depending on the stage of the disease. No detailed histological studies are available to show if there are any such difference in glandular involvement at various time periods and stages of SS. This cross sectional study examines the inflammatory changes in mouse models of SS at various ages. Sjogren’s syndrome (SS) is an autoimmune mediated disorder characterized by inflammation and dysfunction of salivary and lacrimal glands resulting in dryness of the mouth and eyes [1]. The histological hall mark of SS is foci of periductal and perivascular inflammation of lymphocytes mainly in the salivary and lacrimal glands. All of the diagnostic criteria, in addition to the recently revised American

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