Browse

Search for: rheumatoid arthritis    methotrexate    autoimmune disease    biomarker    gene expression    GWAS    HLA genes    non-HLA genes   

ID PMID Title PublicationDate abstract
14578396 The relationship between habitual patient-reported symptoms and clinical signs among patie 2003 Nov PURPOSE: To investigate symptom profiles and clinical signs in subjects with dry eye and normal subjects in a cross-sectional multicenter study. METHODS: Subjects aged 35 to 65 were recruited according to dry eye diagnostic codes and telephone interview and completed the Dry Eye Questionnaire 2001, among others, and underwent dry eye clinical tests. RESULTS: Subjects (122) included 28 control subjects (C), 73 with non-Sjögren's keratoconjunctivitis sicca (non-SS KCS) and 21 with Sjögren's syndrome (SS). Subjects with SS or non-SS KCS reported discomfort and dryness most frequently and that many symptoms worsened over the day and were quite bothersome. Groups were significantly different in corneal fluorescein staining, conjunctival lissamine green staining, Schirmer 1 tear test, and tear break-up time (TBUT; chi2 and Kruskal-Wallis, P<0.0001). Statistically significant, but moderate, correlations were found between the frequency and evening intensity of dryness and discomfort and TBUT, Schirmer's tear test, overall corneal fluorescein staining, and temporal lissamine green conjunctival staining (Spearman r=0.31-0.45, P<0.01). Symptoms were moderately to highly correlated with the clinician's global grading of severity and highly correlated to patient's self-assessment of severity (r=0.46-0.86, P<0.0001), whereas signs showed lower correlations (r=0.22-0.46, P<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Subjects with SS or non-SS KCS reported frequent and intense ocular surface symptoms in the evening, some of which correlated moderately with clinical test results. The global clinician grade of dry eye correlated more highly with patient symptoms than did clinical signs, suggesting that patient symptoms influence dry eye diagnosis and grading of dry eye more than clinical test results.
12734912 Gastric antral vascular ectasia (watermelon stomach) in a patient with Sjögren's syndrome 2003 May Gastric antral vascular ectasia (GAVE), a rare yet treatable cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding, has been described in a variety of autoimmune diseases. We describe a patient who had typical Sjögren's syndrome and iron deficiency anemia requiring blood transfusion. An endoscopy showed characteristic findings of GAVE. After several fulguration therapies with argon-plasma coagulator, the mucosal lesions improved and her hemoglobin levels returned to normal.
12634611 Fetal cell microchimerism: helpful or harmful to the parous woman? 2003 Apr PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Fetal cells enter the maternal circulation during most pregnancies and can persist in maternal blood and tissues after delivery. Concerns with regard to the histocompatibility of these fetal cells have raised the question of the long-term consequences of an immune response on maternal health. In the past few years, many investigators have demonstrated an association between the persistence of fetal cells in maternal tissues and blood and maternal autoimmune disease, especially systemic sclerosis. In this review we will summarize more recent data that provide a new insight into bi-directional feto-maternal cell trafficking. RECENT FINDINGS: Persisting fetal cells have been found in the tissue of women affected with endocrine or infectious disease as well as healthy parous women. SUMMARY: These data suggest the possibility that fetal microchimeric cells may also participate in the maternal physiological response to tissue injury. The medical consequences of pregnancy, therefore, appear to extend well beyond delivery.
11950012 Subclinical myositis is common in primary Sjögren's syndrome and is not related to muscle 2002 Apr OBJECTIVE: Although muscle pain is common in primary Sjögren's syndrome (SS), the underlying mechanisms are mainly unknown. We studied all patients with SS at our rheumatology unit with respect to muscle pain in general and to fibromyalgia (FM), and correlated clinical data to muscle biopsy findings. METHODS: We investigated 48 patients with SS according to the modified European diagnostic criteria. The ACR criteria for FM were used to subgroup the patients. Muscle biopsy was performed in 36 patients. Light microscope morphology and immunohistochemical expression of MHC class I, MHC class II, and membrane attack complex (MAC) were studied. RESULTS: We found 44% of patients complained of muscle pain; 27% fulfilled the ACR criteria for FM, whereas 17% had other forms of myalgia. Muscle pain could not be related to histopathological findings. Signs of inflammation were found in 26 of 36 biopsies (72%), and inflammation combined with degeneration/regeneration (i.e., histological signs of polymyositis) in 17 biopsies (47%). However, only 5 patients (14%) had clinical as well as histological signs of polymyositis. Eight muscle biopsies (22%) showed histological features of inclusion body myositis (IBM). However, no patient had clinical symptoms suggestive of this disease. Abnormal expression of MHC class I, MHC class II, and MAC was found in 18 (50%), 16 (44%), and 27 (75%) patients, respectively. CONCLUSION: Muscle pain, especially FM, is common in SS. Histopathological signs of myositis are very common in SS. However, muscle symptoms are not related to histological signs of muscle inflammation. IBM-like findings may represent vacuolar myopathic degeneration due to previous subclinical muscle inflammation rather than a specific clinical entity.
15215161 Molecular analysis of the human autoantibody response to alpha-fodrin in Sjögren's syndro 2004 Jul Lymphocyte infiltration of salivary and lacrimal glands leading to diminished secretion and gland destruction as a result of apoptosis is thought to be pivotal in the pathogenesis of Sjögren's syndrome (SS). The cytoskeletal protein alpha-fodrin is cleaved during this apoptotic process, and a strong antibody (Ab) response is elicited to a 120-kd fragment of cleaved alpha-fodrin in the majority of SS patients, but generally not in other diseases in which apoptosis also occurs. Little is known about the anti-alpha-fodrin autoantibody response on a molecular level. To address this issue, IgG phage display libraries were generated from the bone marrow of two SS donors and a panel of anti-alpha-fodrin IgGs was isolated by selection on alpha-fodrin immunoblots. All of the human monoclonal Abs (hmAbs) reacted with a 150-kd fragment and not with the 120-kd fragment or intact alpha-fodrin, indicating that the epitope recognized became exposed after alpha-fodrin cleavage. Analysis of a large panel of SS patients (defined by the strict San Diego diagnostic criteria) showed that 25% of SS sera exhibited this 150-kd alpha-fodrin specificity. The hmAbs stained human cultured salivary acinar cells and the staining was redistributed to surface blebs during apoptosis. They also stained inflamed acinar/ductal epithelial cells in SS salivary tissue biopsies, and only partially co-localized with monoclonal Abs recognizing the full-length alpha-fodrin. Our study shows that in SS patients, neoepitopes on the 150-kd cleaved product of alpha-fodrin become exposed to the immune system, frequently eliciting anti-150-kd alpha-fodrin Abs in addition to the previously reported anti-120-kd Abs. The anti-150-kd alpha-fodrin hmAbs may serve as valuable reagents for the study of SS pathogenesis and diagnostic analyses of SS salivary gland tissue.
15533207 Oral findings in coeliac disease and Sjögren's syndrome. 2004 Nov OBJECTIVE: Both coeliac disease (CD) and Sjogren's syndrome (SS) have an autoimmune background and increased risk of oral mucosal and dental abnormalities. Individuals suffering concomitantly from CD and SS could even be at a higher risk. STUDY DESIGN: Oral mucosal and dental abnormalities were examined in 20 patients with CD + SS (mean age 61 years) and compared with age- and sex-matched controls with either CD or SS. RESULTS: Oral mucosal changes were most common in SS (80%), followed by CD + SS (65%) and CD (40%). Coeliac-type dental enamel defects were found in 89% in CD + SS and in 88% in CD compared with only 25% in SS (P < 0.001). The median number of teeth was six in the CD + SS, 24 in the CD and 22 in the SS group. The DMF index was higher (P < 0.005) in the CD + SS than in the CD group. CD + SS was characterized by higher salivary flow rate (P < 0.001) and lower inflammatory focus score in the salivary glands (P < 0.01) than SS. CONCLUSIONS: The co-occurrence of CD and SS should be recognized because of its effects on dental and oral mucosal health. A lower salivary gland inflammatory focus score and higher salivary flow rate in CD + SS than in SS suggests that a gluten-free diet treatment may alleviate autoimmune inflammation.
15296032 Triad of thymoma, myasthenia gravis and pure red cell aplasia combined with Sjögren's syn 2004 Jul A 36-year-old woman complained of cough and high fever. Computed tomographic scans demonstrated a mediastinal mass. A couple of months later, she developed dryness in her eyes and mouth. Biopsy of the lip confirmed the diagnosis of Sjögren's syndrome. She underwent thymo-thymomectomy. Pathological findings of the mass revealed thymoma. At two months after surgery, she developed ptosis and dysphagia that were compatible with myasthenia gravis. The clinical symptoms were adequately controlled with prednisolone. At eleven months after surgery, she presented with severe anemia, which led to the diagnosis of pure red cell aplasia. The following treatment with cyclosporin caused hemoglobin concentration to rise. However, she continues to suffer from dryness of her eyes and mouth. The case is the first to be reported with Sjögren's syndrome and the triad of thymoma, myasthenia gravis and pure red cell aplasia, and is compared with previously reported cases of the three conditions.
12806507 Disseminated cerebral thrombotic microangiopathy in a patient with adult's still disease. 2003 Jun OBJECTIVE: The aim of this report is to describe a fatal disseminated thrombotic micoangiopathy with renal, pancreatic, and cerebral involvement in a patient with recently diagnosed adult's Still disease (ASD). CASE REPORT: A previously healthy 15 year old girl was admitted to our hospital. According to the clinical and laboratory data the diagnosis of adult's still Disease was established. The treatment was begun and few days after an initial improvement a sudden neurologic deterioration with coma and seizures has occurred. Hours later the patient died. Clinical, laboratorial, and pathologic data will be presented. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge this is the second description of a fatal disseminated cerebral thrombotic microangiopathy in a patient with adult's Still disease, but with a much more fulminating evolution than previously reported. Some etiopathogenic mechanisms could be shared in these two disorders explaining this coexistence.
15112663 [Treatment of oral dryness in Sjögren's syndrome]. 2004 Apr PURPOSE: In Sjögren's syndrome (SS), oral dryness is frequently the most bothersome symptom of sicca syndrome with negative affects on quality of life. A review of treatments of oral dryness is proposed. CURRENT KNOWLEDGE AND KEY POINTS: To date, so specific DMARD has demonstrated its efficacy in SS. Hydroxychloroquine is frequently used but did not demonstrate any clinical benefit in te only small randomized control study versus placebo available. Thus, the only treatments are symptomatic. The most recent data show that systemic cholinergic agonist (pilocarpine and cevimeline) are effective in the symptomatic treatment of dryness. Pilocarpine (Salagen) is the only systemic cholinergic agonist available in Europe. It has been agreed in France since July 2003. FUTURE PROSPECTS AND PROJECTS: Use of immunosuppressive drugs may be useful in some complications of SS. Unfortunately, promising results from an open study with infliximab (Remicade) were not confirmed by a large randomized control study involving more than 100 patients. New control studies with old drugs such as hydroxychloroquine, or new ones such as rituximab, are mandatory.
14742644 The molecular basis of salivary gland involvement in graft--vs.--host disease. 2004 Feb During the past two decades, the involvement of salivary glands in graft vs. host disease (GVHD) had been intensively researched and published. GVHD occurs in 40-70% of patients treated with bone marrow and peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT), and improved survival rates have led to a continuously increasing number of GVHD patients suffering from induced salivary insult. Limited studies suggest that a large percentage of GVHD patients is affected and that the induced salivary dysfunction occurs rapidly following the transplantation. It affects both major and minor salivary glands and reflects the severity of the disease. Moreover, profound sialochemical alterations may be diagnostic of GVHD. An additional reason for this vast research is that GVHD, as an autoimmune-like disease, seemed to be an appropriate model for studying a much more prevalent and well-known and well-studied autoimmune disease involving salivary glands: Sjögren's syndrome. The purpose of the current review-which is, to the best of our knowledge, the first of its kind-is to describe the GVHD-related sialometric and sialochemical data published in the past two decades for both major and minor salivary glands and to discuss the pathogenesis and molecular basis of the disease.
12094151 [Prevalence and clinical features of fibromyalgia in systemic lupus erythematosus, systemi 2002 Jun BACKGROUND: We studied the prevalence of fibromyalgia in 3 different groups of patients affected respectively with systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis (scleroderma) and primary Sjögren's syndrome. The typical fibromyalgia findings encountered in these diseases were examined. METHODS: We enrolled 250 consecutive outpatients: 100 with systemic lupus erythematosus, 50 with systemic sclerosis, 100 with primary Sjögren's syndrome and 2 control groups (30 healthy subjects and 75 patients with primary fibromyalgia). Fibromyalgia features were evaluated by algometry, VAS for pain, Mc Gill Pain Questionnaire and Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire. RESULTS: Fibromyalgia has been found in 1 case (1%) with systemic lupus erythematosus, 1 case with systemic sclerosis (2%), 22 cases (22%) with primary Sjögren's syndrome and in 1 (3.3%) of the healthy controls. The number of tender points was significantly higher (p<0.01) in the patients with Sjögren's syndrome in comparison with the other groups. Fibromyalgic findings were similar in the patients with primary fibromyalgia and Sjögren's syndrome with fibromyalgia, unless for both poor sleep and low algometric thresholds which were more frequently found in primary fibromyalgia (respectively p<0.001 and p=0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that fibromyalgia is relatively frequent in primary Sjögren's syndrome, while in systemic lupus and systemic sclerosis its prevalence is not different from that found in the healthy controls. Typical fibromyalgia findings, except algometric values, were similar between the cases with Sjögren's syndrome plus fibromyalgia and fibromyalgia alone.
11948706 Serum hyperviscosity syndrome responding to therapeutic plasmapheresis in a patient with p 2002 Hyperviscosity syndrome is a disorder first described in patients with Waldenström's macroglobulinemia and is not commonly seen in rheumatic diseases. Its association with Sjögren's syndrome is very rare and it has been reported in very few patients. We report the case of a patient with primary Sjögren's syndrome presenting as hyperviscosity syndrome who was successfully treated with therapeutic plasma exchange.
20641231 [(99m)Tc]Anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody. 2004 A characteristic feature of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is progressive inflammation and proliferation of the synovium in the joints, but the disease may also have extra-articular manifestations (1, 2). The inflammatory response observed during RA is believed to be caused by the presence of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T lymphocytes in the RA-inflamed tissue, which indicates that these cells may play an important role in the pathogenesis of this disease (3). Although radiography, scintigraphy, ultrasonography, and magnetic resonance imaging with examination both before and after contrast administration are used for detecting early arthritis, none of these imaging procedures can adequately measure the state of or detect the early signs of arthritis in the tissue (4). The use of radiopharmaceuticals to detect RA has also been explored, but these bone-seeking agents accumulate nonspecifically in the arthritic joint, depicting bone metabolism rather than inflammation of the synovium (5, 6). Because T cells are known to accumulate in the inflamed tissue during RA, the possible use of monoclonal antibodies (mAb) directed against membrane-surface molecules on T cells to detect, evaluate, and monitor the disease has been explored (7-10). Among these mAbs, the anti-CD3 antibody is directed against the CD3 antigen present on the T cells and is widely used as an immunosuppressive drug in organ transplant patients (11). This mAb is approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for the reversal of acute renal, cardiac, or hepatic allograft rejections and is in clinical trials for the treatment of a variety of conditions involving T cells; it is available commercially. Investigators have evaluated the use of a metastable technetium ((99m)Tc)-labeled anti-CD3 mAb ([(99m)Tc]anti-CD3 mAb or [(99m)Tc]OKT3) for the detection of acute renal rejection in transplant patients and also for monitoring RA synovitis (7, 9, 10).
12907152 Identification of a synovial fibroblast-specific protein transduction domain for delivery 2003 Aug Synovial hyperplasia, resulting in erosion of cartilage and bone, represents one of the major pathologies associated with rheumatoid arthritis. To develop an approach for efficient delivery of proteins or agents to synovium to induce targeted apoptosis of hyperplastic synovial tissue, we have screened an M13 peptide phage display library for synovial-specific transduction peptides. We identified a novel synovial-targeted transduction peptide, HAP-1, which is able to facilitate specific internalization of protein complexes into human and rabbit synovial cells in culture and rabbit synovial lining in vivo. HAP-1 and a non-tissue-specific cationic protein transduction domain, PTD-5, were fused to an antimicrobial peptide, (KLAK)(2), to generate two proapoptotic peptides termed DP2 and DP1, respectively. Administration of these peptides was able to induce apoptosis of rabbit and human synovial cells in culture, with DP2 inducing synovial cell-specific apoptosis. Intra-articular injection of DP1 and DP2 into arthritic rabbit joints with synovial hyperplasia induced extensive apoptosis of the hyperplastic synovium, while reducing the leukocytic infiltration and synovitis. These results suggest that proapoptotic peptides and, in particular, DP2 can be clinically useful for treatment of synovial hyperplasia, as well as inflammation. Moreover, the results demonstrate the feasibility of identifying tissue-specific transduction peptides capable of mediating efficient transduction in vivo.
12020053 Valdecoxib (Pharmacia). 2002 Feb Pharmacia (formerly Searle), in collaboration with Pfizer and Yamanouchi, has developed valdecoxib, a second-generation cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 inhibitor as a follow-up to celecoxib, for the treatment of arthritis. Pharmacia filed an NDA with the FDA in March 2001 for the treatment of acute pain, dysmenorrhea, osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). At this time, Pharmacia anticipated a 12-month review [402883]. In June 2001, launch was anticipated in 2002 [412616], and in November 2001, valdecoxib was granted FDA approval [429715]. The company claims that valdecoxib has improved potency and broader therapeutic range than other COX-2 inhibitors including celecoxib, and has the potential for once-daily dosing [287279], [313957]. By 1999, due to the poor water solubility of valdecoxib, Searle was also developing the prodrug parecoxib [324667]. Valdecoxib has been described by Searle as almost superimposable at the site critical for COX-2 inhibition, a structural side pocket in the enzyme which coincides with the sulfonamide group of the drug [324667]. In April 2000, Morgan Stanley Dean Witter estimated sales would be US $400 million in 2003, rising to US $750 million in 2004 [375906]. In April 2001, Merrill Lynch predicted world sales of US $460 million in 2002, rising to $1,065 million in 2005 [420574]. In September 2000, Merrill Lynch reported that additional pain data were being accumulated for this drug, the possible inclusion of which could push filing back to later in the first half of 2001 [382577]. In May 2001, Merrill Lynch expected launch in 2002 [411811]. In August 2001, Lehman Brothers predicted that launch would take place in thefirst half of 2002 and the product would make peak sales of US $1,500 million [420809]. Credit Suisse predicted in this month that total sales would reach US $330 million in 2002, rising to US $1832 million in 2004 [422318]. In September 2001, Morgan Stanley expected launch in the first half of 2002 [427113]. By October 2001, Credit Suisse had revised its sales predictions to US $180 million in 2002, US $790 million in 2003 and US $1,430 in 2004 [427185].
15568484 [Valproate-induced hyperammonemic encephalopathy in a patient with Sjögren's syndrome]. 2004 Oct We describe a 56-year-old woman with hyperammonemic encephalopathy caused by side effect of valproic acid (VPA). Ten months before the admission to our hospital, she had the first attack of convulsive seizure. Diagnosis of epilepsy was made, and the oral administration of VPA (800mg/day) was started at another hospital. Seizure was well controlled by VPA, until the recurrence of attack forced her to visit our hospital. Convulsive seizure disappeared immediately after intravenous administration of diazepam, but consciousness disturbance was prolonged for a few days. Since laboratory examinations revealed hyperammonemia without liver dysfunction, VPA was discontinued. Subsequently, her consciousness completely recovered. Other laboratory findings, including positive antinuclear antibody, antibodies to Sjögren's syndrome A, reduced lacrimal secretion in Schirmer's test, and cell infiltration in the salivary gland on lip biopsy specimen, suggested the presence of Sjögren's syndrome. The hyperammonemia occurs by the side effect of VPA, often has basal disease or drug interactions. It was, however, especially in patients with basal disease or other drugs, obscure whether (and how) Sjögren's syndrome contributed to the development of hyperammonemic encephalopathy in this case, since she took only VPA.
15028963 Cutaneous vasculitis in primary Sjögren syndrome: classification and clinical significanc 2004 Mar To analyze the different clinical and histologic types of cutaneous vasculitis in patients with primary Sjögren syndrome (SS), we investigated the clinical and immunologic characteristics of 558 consecutive patients with primary SS from our units and selected those with clinical evidence of cutaneous lesions, excluding drug reactions and xeroderma. All patients fulfilled 4 or more of the diagnostic criteria for SS proposed by the European Community Study Group in 1993. A total of 89 (16%) patients presented with cutaneous involvement (88 female patients and 1 male; mean age, 51.8 yr). The main cutaneous involvement was cutaneous vasculitis, present in 52 (58%) patients. There were 51 (98%) female patients and 1 (2%) male, with a mean age at diagnosis of cutaneous vasculitis of 51 years (range, 20-80 yr). Fourteen presented with cryoglobulinemic vasculitis, 11 with urticarial vasculitis, and the remaining 26, with cutaneous purpura not associated with cryoglobulins. A skin biopsy specimen was obtained in 38 patients (73%). Involvement of small-sized vessels was observed in 36 (95%) patients (leukocytoclastic vasculitis), while the remaining 2 (5%) presented with medium-sized vessel vasculitis (necrotizing vasculitis). Patients with cutaneous vasculitis had a higher prevalence of articular involvement (50% vs 29%, p = 0.044), peripheral neuropathy (31% vs 4%, p < 0.001), Raynaud phenomenon (40% vs 15%, p = 0.008), renal involvement (10% vs 0%, p = 0.028), antinuclear antibodies (88% vs 60%, p = 0.002), rheumatoid factor (78% vs 48%, p = 0.004), anti-Ro/SS-A antibodies (70% vs 43%, p = 0.011), and hospitalization (25% vs 4%, p = 0.005) compared with SS patients without vasculitis. Six (12%) patients died, all of whom had multisystemic cryoglobulinemia.In conclusion, cutaneous involvement was detected in 16% of patients with primary SS, with cutaneous vasculitis being the most frequent process. The main characteristics of SS-associated cutaneous vasculitis were the overwhelming predominance of small versus medium vessel vasculitis and leukocytoclastic versus mononuclear vasculitis, with a higher prevalence of extraglandular and immunologic SS features. Small vessel vasculitis manifested as palpable purpura, urticarial lesions, or erythematosus maculopapules, with systemic involvement in 44% of patients in association with cryoglobulins in 30%. Life-threatening vasculitis was closely related to cryoglobulinemia.
14716060 Mikulicz syndrome associated with a malignant large cell gastric lymphoma: a case report a 2003 There is much confusion in the literature regarding the differences between Mikulicz disease and Mikulicz syndrome. This may be because there seems to be a connection between the disease and disease processes associated with the syndrome. This article provides historical data discussing the emergence of Mikulicz disease, confusions regarding its definition, and finally offers an explanation to the interrelationships of these two entities. This case report hypothesizes that the non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), which in association with Sjögren's syndrome and Mikulicz disease in this patient comprised the Mikulicz syndrome, may have transformed into his malignant large-cell gastric lymphoma. It supports conclusions in the literature that Mikulicz disease, benign lymphoepithelial lesion, and Sjögren's syndrome may all be a part of the same disease process as graduated variants of one another, with malignant lymphoma being a recognized complication of these entities.
12429814 Selective down-regulation of aquaporin-1 in salivary glands in primary Sjögren's syndrome 2002 Nov Salivary and lacrimal gland secretions are reduced in primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS). Aquaporins (AQPs) are involved in transmembrane water transport, and different isoforms show specific cellular and subcellular distributions in salivary and lacrimal glands. Changes in expression of AQP molecules have therefore been suggested to contribute to the glandular dysfunction in pSS. AQP-5 is present in the apical membrane of acinar cells, where it mediates fluid outflow; however, we have recently shown that its expression is not altered in pSS. We therefore studied whether expression of other isoforms of AQP would be altered in pSS. Using high-resolution confocal microscopy, we determined the distribution of AQP-1 and AQP-3 in labial salivary gland biopsies from 11 patients with pSS and 9 healthy controls. AQP-1 is present in myoepithelial cells surrounding acini, and its expression in these cells was decreased by 38% in pSS glands. By contrast, expression of AQP-1 in endothelial cells of nonfenestrated capillaries was not altered in pSS. AQP-3 was expressed in the basolateral membrane of acinar epithelial cells, and its expression was not altered in disease. We therefore conclude that AQP-1 expression in myoepithelial cells is selectively down-regulated in pSS and that myoepithelial cell dysfunction may play a crucial role in the pathology of this disease.
12860732 Apoptosis of peripheral blood lymphocytes in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis. 2003 Aug BACKGROUND: Recent data suggested that abnormalities in mechanisms regulating apoptosis may have a role in the development of the rheumatoid process. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate different aspects of apoptosis in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). METHODS: The frequency of TUNEL positive peripheral blood (PB) lymphocytes (apoptotic index (AI)), as well as serum CD95 (APO1/Fas) antigen expression and serum levels of sFas and interleukin 15 (IL15), were examined in 44 cases of JIA. Results were correlated with type of onset, activity of JIA, and acute phase indicators. RESULTS: The AI of lymphocytes was significantly higher in patients with JIA than in controls (p=0.020). The mean AI of lymphocytes was increased in JIA with systemic type of onset and high activity (p=0.001). Moreover, IL15 levels in systemic disease were higher than in controls (p=0.012). An increased AI correlated with raised IL15 (p=0.046), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (p=0.005) and C reactive protein (CRP; p=0.017). Additionally, correlation was found between IL15 and CRP levels (p=0.039). CD95 and sFas levels were unchanged compared with controls. CONCLUSION: PB lymphocytes of children with JIA have an increased tendency to undergo apoptosis. The degree of apoptosis depends on the type of onset and activity of JIA and correlates with serum levels of IL15. Further studies are needed to explain whether this is an epiphenomenon of the disease activity or is related to the pathogenesis of JIA.