CYTOKINE MESSENGER-RNA EXPRESSION IN THE LABIAL SALIVARY-GLANDS OF PATIENTS WITH SJOGRENS-SYNDROME

Objective, To characterize the initiation and progress of localized au toimmune damage in Sjogren's syndrome (SS), an autoimmune disease that is also considered to be a lymphoaggressive disorder, by examining th e pattern of cytokine production at the site of autoimmune damage, Met hods. Using a polymerase chain reaction-based method, cytokine messeng er RNA (mRNA) expression in the labial salivary glands of 15 patients with SS was investigated In addition, the infiltrating lymphocytes in the labial salivary glands were examined immunohistochemically, Result s, Messenger RNAs of Th1 cytokines, such as interleukin-2 (IL-2) and i nterferon-gamma, were consistently detected in all patients, while Th2 cytokine mRNAs, such as IL-4 and IL-5, mere detected in some cases, i n association with strong B cell accumulation in the labial salivary g lands, Other cytokine mRNAs produced by a variety of cell types, inclu ding IL-10, IL-6, and transforming growth factor beta (TGF beta), were also consistently detected in all patients, while IL-12 mRNA tvas det ected in some of the patients, Conclusion, These results suggest that Th1 cytokines, as well as IL-10, IL-6, and TGF beta, are essential in the induction and/or maintenance of SS, while Th2 cytokines are involv ed in the progression of the disease process, especially local B cell activation.