1. T cells in primary Sjögren's syndrome
- Author
-
Frans G. M. Kroese, Gwenny M Verstappen, Hendrika Bootsma, and Translational Immunology Groningen (TRIGR)
- Subjects
0301 basic medicine ,lymphocytes ,medicine.medical_treatment ,T cell ,T cells ,Pathogenesis ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Rheumatology ,biologic therapies ,Follicular phase ,medicine ,Pharmacology (medical) ,Review Articles ,B cell ,AcademicSubjects/MED00360 ,030203 arthritis & rheumatology ,Effector ,business.industry ,biomarkers ,Immunotherapy ,medicine.disease ,SS ,cytokines ,Peeling skin syndrome ,030104 developmental biology ,medicine.anatomical_structure ,Cytokine ,Cancer research ,histopathology ,immunotherapy ,business - Abstract
A histologic hallmark of primary SS (pSS) is lymphocytic infiltration of the salivary and lacrimal glands, in particular by CD4+ T and B cells. In the early stages of the disease, infiltrates are dominated by CD4+ T cells, while B cell accumulation occurs at later stages. Activated T cells contribute to pathogenesis by producing pro-inflammatory cytokines and by inducing B cell activation, which results in the establishment of a positive feedback loop. In the inflamed glandular tissues, many different CD4+ effector subsets are present, including IFN-γ-producing Th1 cells, IL-17-producing Th17 cells and IL-21-producing T follicular helper cells. In blood from pSS patients, frequently observed abnormalities of the T cell compartment are CD4+ T cell lymphopenia and enrichment of circulating follicular helper T (Tfh) cells. Tfh cells are critical mediators of T cell–dependent B cell hyperactivity and these cells can be targeted by immunotherapy. Inhibition of T cell activation, preferably early in the disease process, can mitigate B cell activity and may be a promising treatment approach in this disease.
- Published
- 2021