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The pathophysiology of exocrine dysfunction observed in Sjogren's syndrome (SS) is not fully understood. We identified autoantibodies against human AQP5 in the sera of primary SS patients. The screening of 53 control and 112 SS samples by an indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) assay using the AQP5-expressing MDCK cells revealed the presence of significantly higher levels of anti-AQP5 IgG in the SS samples than in the control samples with sensitivity of 0.73 and a specificity of 0.68. Furthermore, the presence of anti-AQP5 autoantibodies was associated with low resting salivary flow in SS patients. Subsequently, epitope analysis of the anti-AQP5 autoantibodies was performed by IIF assay in the presence or absence of peptides corresponding to the second transmembrane helix and extracellular loops A, C and E of AQP5. Overall, SS samples (n = 27) were inhibited by peptides corresponding to A, C, and E by approximately 40 to 50%, whereas control samples (n = 14) were inhibited only by peptides corresponding to E by less than 20%. A cyclized peptide mimicking E(E1) was most frequently recognized and best differentiated between SS and control samples. To determine functional epitopes, the effects of purified IgG and neutralizing peptides on the transepithelial osmotic permeability (PfT) of MDCK cells expressing AQP5 were measured. Incubation of MDCK-AQP5 cells with SS-, but not with control-IgG, significantly decreased PfT, which was reversed by the neutralization of IgG binding to any of the extracellular loops. In conclusion, antiAQP5 autoantibodies may be a potential biomarker and therapeutic target in SS.

In this paper, we try to find additional evidence for Trade Up Hypothesis in the form of environmental spillovers in an emerging economy. Foreign firms can help improve the host country’s natural e...

Appreciably elevated levels of dextranase from Arthrobacter oxydans (AODex) isolated from sugar-cane farm soil was resulted from the culture on the Luria-Bertani (LB) medium containing 1%(w/v) soluble starch, glycerol, or dextran. The responsible gene (aodex) was cloned, its nucleotide sequence was determined, and expression of the encoded protein was achieved in Escherichia coli. An open reading frame was composed of 1,863 bp putatively encoding a 68.3 kDa protein. Recombinant A. oxydans dextranase (rAODex) was purified about 16 fold by nickel-nitrilotriacetic acid affinity column chromatography; Km value for dextran T2000 was 0.85 mg/mL (w/v). AODex treatment of stale sugar cane juice resulted in a yield of square and light-colored sugar crystals.

591Background: CT-P6 is a proposed biosimilar to reference trastuzumab, Herceptin (H) (Genentech, S San Francisco, CA, USA). A randomized phase III trial showed efficacy equivalence and comparable ...

A new triterpenoid, 30-hydroxyalphitolic acid 1, and eight known triterpenoids, alphitolic acid 2, lupenol 3, 3-acetoxy-olean-18-en-28-oic acid 4, betulinic acid 5, ursolic acid 6, betulinic acid 3-O-caffeate 7, morolic acid 3-O-caffeate 8, and ursolic acid 3-O-caffeate 9, were isolated from Callistemon lanceolatus. Their structures were determined using spectroscopic techniques, which included 1D- and 2D-NMR. All compounds were evaluated for the inhibition of LPS-induced nitric oxide production in murine macrophage RAW264.7 cells. Betulinic acid 3-O-caffeate 7 showed a moderate inhibitory effect on nitric oxide production with IC(50) value of 15.4 microM.

Hydroquinone (HQ) functions as a skin-whitening agent, but it has the potential to cause dermatitis. We synthesized a HQ fructoside (HQ-Fru) as a potential skin-whitening agent by reacting levansucrase from Leuconostoc mesenteroides with HQ as an acceptor and sucrose as a fructofuranose donor. The product was purified using 1-butanol partition and silica-gel column chromatography. The structure of the purified HQ-Fru was determined by (1)H and (13)C nuclear magnetic resonance, and the molecular ion of the product was observed at m/z 295 (C12 H16 O7 Na)(+). The HQ-Fru was identified as 4-hydroxyphenyl-beta-D: -fructofuranoside. The optimum condition for HQ-Fru synthesis was determined using a response surface method (RSM), and the final optimum condition was 350 mM HQ, 115 mM sucrose, and 0.70 U/ml levansucrase, and the final HQ-Fru produced was 1.09 g/l. HQ-Fru showed anti-oxidation activities and inhibition against tyrosinase. The median inhibition concentration (IC(50)) of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl scavenging activity was 5.83 mM, showing higher antioxidant activity compared to beta-arbutin (IC(50) = 6.04 mM). The K ( i ) value of HQ-Fru (1.53 mM) against tyrosinase was smaller than that of beta-arbutin (K ( i ) = 2.8 mM), indicating that it was 1.8-times better as an inhibitor. The inhibition of lipid peroxidation by HQ-Fru was 105.3% that of HQ (100%) and 118.9 times higher than that of beta-arbutin (0.89% of HQ).

The gene encoding sucrose phosphorylase (742sp) in Leuconostoc mesenteroides NRRL B-742 was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. The nucleotide sequence of the transformed 742sp comprised an ORF of 1,458 bp giving a protein with calculated molecular mass of 55.3 kDa. 742SPase contains a C-terminal amino acid sequence that is significantly different from those of other Leu. mesenteroides SPases. The purified 742SPase had a specific activity of 1.8 U/mg with a K (m) of 3 mM with sucrose as a substrate; optimum activity was at 37 degrees C and pH 6.7. The purified 742SPase transferred the glucosyl moiety of sucrose to cytosine monophosphate (CMP).

The present cross-sectional study was carried out among community-dwelling Koreans to determine the validity of various muscle mass indices and to propose more clinically relevant diagnostic criteria.This study measured the anthropometrics, body composition and physical capability of 415 older Koreans. Skeletal muscle indices were calculated by dividing appendicular lean mass by height or weight. Apart from this, we adjusted appendicular lean mass for body mass index, body surface area or waist-to-height ratio, which we then named the qualitative muscle mass index. Skeletal muscle function deficit was defined as a combination of weakness and slowness.Qualitative muscle indices were closely associated with physical capabilities. Receiver operating characteristic and logistic analyses showed that qualitative muscle indices had significantly greater discriminatory powers regarding low muscle function than did the height-adjusted index in both men and women, and even showed higher discriminatory potentials than the weight-adjusted index in men (all P 0.05). The cut-off values of qualitative muscle indices of body mass index-, body surface area-, and waist-to-height ratio-adjusted indices for identifying functional deficits were 0.760, 11.40 and 34.18 for men, and 0.530, 8.91 and 23.07 for women, respectively.The present study suggests that qualitative muscle indices are more accurate in predicting low muscle function than are height- and weight-adjusted indices, because they consider anthropometric characteristics as part of the definition. The results might provide new avenues for conceptualizations of sarcopenia accompanied by obesity, and can be used as ethnic-specific reference values of muscle mass indices based on functional outcome in an elderly Korean/Asian population. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2017; 17: 99-107.

Ethnopharmacological relevance The root bark of Dictamnus dasycarpus Turcz. (Rutaceae) has been used as a traditional herbal medicine to treat various inflammatory diseases in East Asia. We have showed previously that a glabretal type triterpenoid (dictabretol A) from D. dasycarpus root bark has immunosuppressive activity. Aim of the study This study was conducted to define the molecular mechanism of how dictabretol A inhibits lymphocyte proliferation and to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of dictabretol A in an animal model of rheumatoid arthritis. Materials and methods Various murine immune cells (T cells, B cells, and macrophages) and splenocytes were used to study the anti-proliferative effect of dictabretol A in vitro. A collagen-induced arthritis model was also used to examine the therapeutic effect of dictabretol A in vivo. Results Dictabretol A specifically inhibited lymphocyte proliferation by blocking the cell cycle transition from the G 1 to the S phase. This effect was achieved by blocking Erk1/2, nuclear factor kappa B, and the C-myc axis of cell cycle progression. Further dictabretol A treatment alleviated the severity of collagen-induced arthritis. Conclusion Our results reveal the molecular mechanism for the anti-lymphoproliferative effect of dictabretol A and show the therapeutic efficacy of dictabretol A for rheumatoid arthritis.

We observed that oleuropein, the main constituent of the leaves and unprocessed olive drupes of Olea europaea, protected mice from high-fat diet-induced adiposity by up-regulation of genes involved in Wnt10b-mediated signaling in adipose tissue. The activation of Wnt/beta-catenin pathway is also well established to positively regulate the anagen phase of hair growth cycle in mice skin. Methodology and Principal Findings Oleuropein promoted cultured human follicle dermal papilla cell proliferation and induced LEF1 and Cyc-D1 mRNA expression and beta-catenin protein expression in dermal papilla cells. Nuclear accumulation of beta-catenin in dermal papilla cells was observed after oleuropein treatment. Topical application of oleuropein (0.4 mg/mouse/day) to C57BL/6N mice accelerated the hair-growth induction and increased the size of hair follicles in telogenic mouse skin. The oleuropein-treated mouse skin showed substantial upregulation of Wnt10b, FZDR1, LRP5, LEF1, Cyc-D1, IGF-1, KGF, HGF, and VEGF mRNA expression and beta-catenin protein expression. Conclusions and Significance These results demonstrate that topical oleuroepin administration induced anagenic hair growth in telogenic C57BL/6N mouse skin. The hair-growth promoting effect of oleuropein in mice appeared to be associated with the stimulation of the Wnt10b/beta-catenin signaling pathway and the upregulation of IGF-1, KGF, HGF, and VEGF gene expression in mouse skin tissue.

The electroless nickel plating on an aluminum input/output (I/O) pad was investigated. The aluminum pad was pretreated in a zincate solution prior to electroless nickel plating. Zinc particles on the aluminum pad gave a good adherent nickel layer. The adhesion and uniformity of zinc on the aluminum is the key factor in under-bump metallurgy (UBM). The electrode potential changes with and without zinc ions in the bath were measured to analyze the sequence of two competing reactions: zinc deposit and hydrogen evolution. The relationship between aluminum dissolution and the ratio of zinc and NaOH was investigated. The electroless nickel deposition rate was dependent on bath composition. The effects of complexing ligand and additive on the nickel deposit were analyzed. Electrode potential changes were measured with time to confirm nucleation and grain growth. Adhesion of the UBM was related to zinc-particle dissolution and nickel nucleation. The uniform nickel UBM was fabricated on a real Al I/O pad.

A new acetylenic acid, (10E,14Z)-9-oxooctadeca-10,14-dien-12-ynoic acid (1), was isolated from the edible mushroom Chanterelle (Cantharellus cibarius), together with a known acetylenic acid, (10E,14Z)-9-hydroxyoctadeca-10,14-dien-12-ynoic acid (2) and their structures were determined through analysis of NMR and mass data. The new acetylenic acid (1) specifically activated peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-γ with an EC(50) value of 1.88 μM as measured by a reporter gene assay. Expression of PPAR-γ target genes were significantly altered as well, supporting the hypothesis that compound 1 is a PPAR-γ potential agonist that regulates transcription of the PPAR-γ target genes.

The growing literature on fields and especially on field-configuring events have drawn attention to significant discontinuities in firm-level corporate social responsibility (CSR). It also revealed...

A new pyrrolidinone diterpenoid, excisusin F (1), was isolated from the aerial parts of Isodon excisus (Lamiaceae), together with four known compounds, and their structures were determined mainly by NMR (1D and 2D) and mass spectrometry. Excisusin F (1) and inflexarabdonin E (3) showed potent inhibitory effects of LPS-induced nitric oxide production in RAW264.7 cells with the IC(50) value of 10.4 and 3.8 μM, respectively.

cope This study investigated metabolic effects of ursolic acid (UA), a peroxisome proliferation-activated receptor (PPAR)-α activator, in vivo. Methods and results High-fat diet (HFD)-fed C57BL/6J mice were orally administered UA (50 or 200 mg/kg body weight) for 8 wk. UA reduced liver and adipose tissue mass, adipocyte size, and plasma leptin concentrations, plasma triglyceride and low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations, while it elevated the high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol and adiponectin concentrations significantly compared with controls. UA induced the expression of PPARα and its responsive genes involved in fatty acid uptake and β-oxidation in the livers, whereas genes involved in lipogenesis, including sterol regulatory element-binding proteins-1c, were downregulated. UA administration improved glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity significantly compared with the HFD-fed control livers. UA administration also activated hepatic autophagy as assessed by the expression of microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B-light chain 3 (LC3)-II and other key proteins in the autophagy pathway. Conclusion Our findings suggest that UA ameliorates lipid and glucose metabolism in HFD-fed mice primarily by the activation of PPARα and induction of the hepatic autophagy pathway. Thus, intake of UA in the diet or in an isolated form may ameliorate lipid and glucose metabolism.

Sjogren’s Syndrome (SS) is a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by focal mononuclear cell infiltration into target organs such as salivary and lacrimal glands, leading to sicca symptoms. SS is characterized by the production of numerous circulating autoantibodies. The anti-muscarinic autoantibodies against the type 3 receptor (anti-M3R autoantibodies) in primary SS patients’ sera has recently been studied as its possible involvement in the pathogenesis of SS and a capable diagnostic marker, since M3R plays critical roles in exocrine secretion and smooth muscle contraction. Anti-M3R autoantibodies in the sera of SS patients were detectable with high sensitivity and specificity and had broad inhibitory effects on the exocrine secretion and the smooth muscle contraction mediated by parasympathetic neurons. In Salivary Gland Epithelial Cells (SGECs), the inhibitory effect of SS autoantibodies on M3R function were verified at the cellular and molecular levels; anti-M3R autoantibodies inhibited carbachol-induced [Ca2+]i increase and the activities of ion channels and membrane transporters, that are dependent on [Ca2+]i. Anti-M3R autoantibodies appear to inhibit M3R function in two ways: acute desensitization of M3R by direct occupation of agonist binding sites of the receptor and the resulting receptor internalization. Abundant anti-M3R autoantibodies may bind to the remaining unoccupied M3Rs, thereby causing progressive and long-term loss of M3R function. Anti-M3R positivity in SS patients was also associated with some clinical manifestations such as leucopenia, anemia, and thrombocytopenia. In this review, we will discuss the prevalence of anti-M3R autoantibodies in the sera of SS patients, the inhibitory effect of anti-M3R autoantibodies in various tissues, and the potential role of anti-M3R autoantibodies with SGECs in the pathogenesis of SS.

A liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry-based metabolomics approach was applied to metabolite profiling of Gastrodia elata in order to identify raw and steamed G. elata and explore potential biomarkers for each processing state. A statistical classification method, significant analysis of microarrays, was used to select influential metabolites from the different forms. Through metabolite selection, several potential biomarkers were determined and assigned by matching mass information with that of reference compounds or by comparing it with data in the literature. Furthermore, the developed method was cross-checked using two validation procedures. The first validation was performed simultaneously with the metabolite profiling of G. elata using all detected metabolites, and the second was performed after the metabolite profiling using representative standard compounds of G. elata. Overall, this study can be applied to quality assurance of G. elata.

In this paper, modelling and co-simulation methodology is proposed to predict electromagnetic interference (EMI) from on-chip switching input/output buffers. The output waveforms of I/O buffers are simulated including on-chip I/O buffer circuit and RC extracted on-chip interconnect netlist, package, and printed circuit board (PCB). In order to accurately estimate the EMI, full-wave 3D simulator is used. The simulations results are compared with far-field measurements from anechoic chamber and near-field electromagnetic scan. The measurement and simulation results confirm the EMI can be reduced by controlling the slew rate of I/O buffers.

In this paper, we present an efficient backlit region detection and enhancement method with low-computational cost for consumer mobile imaging devices. The proposed approach partitions an input image into multiple rectangular blocks, and uses a fuzzy logic-based optimal threshold to classify each block as backlit, background, or ambiguous. Backlit blocks are then processed using a contrast enhancement algorithm, whereas those block that are classified as ambiguous are further partitioned into four subblocks, and each subblock goes through further classification. The major advantage of the proposed method is computational efficiency and improved quality with minimized blocking artifacts compared with other block-based approaches.

The new acetylenic acid (I) specifically activates peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-γ with an EC50 value of 1.88 μM.

In this study, 39 specimens belonging to Lespedeza species (Lespedeza cyrtobotrya, L. bicolor, L. maximowiczii, and Lespedeza cuneata) (Leguminosae) were classified phenotypically and genotypically. We constructed a phylogenetic tree based on the combined nrDNA (internal transcribed spacer; ITS) and cpDNA (trnL-trnF) sequences with the aim of classifying the genotypes. Samples were mainly divided into three genotypes. Samples of L. cyrtobotrya and L. bicolor were mixed in a single branch, whereas samples of L. maximowiczii and L. cuneata were clustered within species, respectively. We performed a liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry-based metabolite profiling analysis to classify the phenotypes. Multivariate statistical analyses such as principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA) were used for the clustering pattern analysis and distance analysis between species, respectively. According to the PCA and HCA results, leaves were classified into four phenotypes according to species. In both the genetic and chemotaxonomic classification methods, the distance between L. cyrtobotrya and L. bicolor was the closest between species, and L. cuneata was the farthest away from the other three species. Additionally, orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis was employed to identify significantly different phytochemicals between species. We classified L. cyrtobotrya and L. bicolor by identifying significantly different phytochemicals. Interestingly, leaves and stems showed different phenotypic classifications based on the chemotaxonomic classification. Stem samples of the other three species were mixed regardless of species, whereas L. cyrtobotrya stem samples were clustered within species. The phenotypic classification of leaves coincided more with the genotypic classification than that of stems. Key message We classified four wild-type Lespedeza sp. by analyzing the combined nrDNA (ITS) and cpDNA (trnL-trnF) sequences. We also classified leaves and stems of Lespedeza sp. by applying liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy-based metabolite profiling.

Two new polyhydroxylated macrolides, seimatopolides A (1) and B (2), were isolated from an EtOAc extract of Seimatosporium discosioides culture medium. The structures of the new compounds were established on the basis of spectroscopic analysis, including 1D and 2D NMR, and their absolute configurations were determined using the modified Mosher's method. Seimatopolides A (1) and B (2) activated peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-γ with EC(50) values of 1.15 and 11.05 μM, respectively. The expression of PPAR-γ target genes in HepG2 hepatocytes was significantly altered; in particular, expression of the gluconeogenic genes glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase) and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) was reduced upon stimulation with 1, supporting the proposal that compound 1 is both a PPAR-γ agonist and a possible therapeutic candidate for treatment of diabetes.

A gene, alg7D, from Saccharophagus degradans, coding for a putative alginate lyase belonging to the family of polysaccharide lyase-7, was overexpressed in Escherichia coli. The properties of the recombinant Alg7D were characterized. The enzyme endolytically depolymerized alginate by β-elimination into oligo-alginates with degrees of polymerization of 2-5. Its activity was maximal at 50°C and pH 7 and was slightly increased in the presence of Na(+). The K(M), V(max), k(cat), and k(cat)/K(M) values were: 3 mg ml(-1), 6.2 U mg(-1), 1.9 × 10(-2) s(-1), and 6.3 × 10(-3) mg(-1 )ml s(-1), respectively.

Five new dimeric ent-kauranoids, biexcisusins A–E (1–5), were isolated from the aerial parts of Isodon excisus. The structures and relative configurations of these compounds were determined on the basis of spectroscopic data interpretation. Of these, biexcisusins C–E (3–5) are dimeric ent-kaurane diterpenoids exhibiting an unprecedented linkage through a nine-membered lactone ring between two ent-kaurane subunits. Compounds 1–5 showed no inhibitory effects on the LPS-induced production of nitric oxide in murine macrophage RAW264.7 cells, up to a dose of 50 μM.

In this study, we confirmed that ursolic acid, a plant triterpenoid, activates peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-α in vitro. Surface plasmon resonance and time-resolved fluorescence resonance energy transfer analyses do not show direct binding of ursolic acid to the ligand-binding domain of PPAR-α; however, ursolic acid enhances the binding of PPAR-α to the peroxisome proliferator response element in PPAR-α-responsive genes, alters the expression of key genes in lipid metabolism, significantly reducing intracellular triglyceride and cholesterol concentrations in hepatocytes. Thus, ursolic acid is a PPAR-α agonist that regulates the expression of lipid metabolism genes, but it is not a direct ligand of PPAR-α.

Novel and potent inhibitors of Plasmodium falciparum plasmepsin II were identified by post-processing the results of a docking screening with BEAR, a recently reported procedure for the refinement and rescoring of docked ligands in virtual screening. FRET substrate degradation assays performed on the 30 most promising compounds resulted in 26 inhibitors with IC(50) values ranging from 4.3 nM to 1.8 microM.Herein we report the discovery of novel and potent inhibitors of Plasmodium falciparum plasmepsin II using GRID computing infrastructures. These compounds were identified by post-processing the results of a large docking screen of commercially available compounds using an automated procedure based on molecular dynamics refinement and binding free-energy estimation using MM-PBSA and MM-GBSA. Among the best-scored compounds, four highly populated and promising chemical classes were identified: N-alkoxyamidines, guanidines, amides, and ureas and thioureas. Thirty hit compounds representative of each class were selected on the basis of their favourable binding free energies and molecular interactions with key active site residues. These were experimentally validated using an inhibition assay based on FRET substrate degradation. Remarkably, 26 of the 30 tested compounds proved to be active as plasmepsin II inhibitors, with IC(50) values ranging from 4.3 nM to 1.8 microM.

Two new 6-alkylsalicylic acids, salaceyins A and B were isolated by bioassay-guided fractionation from the culture of the endophytic Streptomyces laceyi MS53 and their structures were determined on the basis of spectroscopic data. Salaceyins A and B exhibited modest cytotoxicity against a human breast cancer cell line (SKBR3) with IC50 values of 3.0 and 5.5 microg/ml, respectively.

We proposed and successfully demonstrate multi-functional Si-on-ONO (SOONO) MOSFETs. As a high performance transistor and embedded 2-bit flash memory, they show the reasonable characteristics. SOONO MOSFETs act as ultra thin body transistor with self-limited shallow junction, resulting in good SCE immunity and high driving currents, 737muA/mum for nMOS and 330muA/mum for pMOS at |VGS| = |VDS| = 1 V, IOFF = 100 nA/mum). In terms of flash memory, SOONO MOSFET acts as 2-bit flash memory with 2 physically separated storage node in back side. By using CHEI/HHI program/erase, each node was easily programmed and erased. In the gate length of 120 nm, we achieved the read/write margins of ~1.3 V at VDS = 1.2 V and the VTH shifts of ~2.5V for both program/erase

Does environmental management help foreign-invested firms outperform local firms in emerging economies? Existing research suggests that environmental management may or may not benefit firm performance, but the question is particularly under investigated in emerging economics. This study explores whether foreign-invested local firms that can access better environmental management systems outperform comparable local firms in an emerging economy. In making this comparison, we use the propensity score matching along with difference-in-differences approach to handle the endogeneity problem inherent in foreign firms’ investment decisions. By using financial and environmental data from China for the period 1998-2009, we find evidence that foreign-invested firms perform better than local firms when firms are under high environmental pressure.

The pathophysiology of exocrine dysfunction observed in Sjögren’s syndrome (SS) is not fully understood. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether autoantibodies against human AQP5 are present in the sera of SS patients. Frozen sections of mouse submandibular salivary glands, CHO cells over-expressing a human AQP5–GFP fusion protein or GFP, and MDCK cells over-expressing AQP5 were used in the indirect immunofluorescence assay to detect anti-AQP5 autoantibodies in the sera from patients with primary SS. The lysates of HEK-293 cells over-expressing the AQP5–GFP fusion protein or GFP were used for immunoprecipitation. Serum IgG from the SS patients but not from the control subjects stained acinar cells in the mouse salivary glands, the signals of which colocalized with those of AQP5-specific antibodies. Serum IgG from the SS patients also selectively stained AQP5–GFP expressed in CHO cells. However, both the control and SS sera immunoprecipitated the AQP5–GFP, suggesting that autoantibodies against AQP5 were also present in the control sera. The screening of 53 control and 112 SS samples by indirect immunofluorescence assay using the AQP5-expressing MDCK cells revealed the presence of significantly higher levels of anti-AQP5 IgG in the SS samples than in the control samples with sensitivity of 0.73 and a specificity of 0.68. Furthermore, the presence of anti-AQP5 autoantibodies was associated with low resting salivary flow in SS patients. In conclusion, anti-AQP5 autoantibodies were detected in the sera from SS patients, which could be a novel biomarker of SS and provide new insight into the pathogenesis of SS. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s12026-016-8786-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.