Expression of pro-inflammatory TACE-TNF-α-amphiregulin axis in Sjögren’s syndrome salivary glands

The tumor-necrosis-factor-converting-enzyme (TACE)-TNF-alpha-Amphiregulin (AREG) axis plays an important pathogenic role in inflammatory and autoimmune disorders. However, the pathological roles of these proteins in the chronic autoimmune disease Sjogren's syndrome (SS) remain to be elucidated. It is known that the TACE-AREG axis is clearly part of a larger cascade of signals that starts with the activation of Furin, responsible for maturation of TACE that, in turn, determines the production of active TNF-alpha, directly involved in the up-regulation of AREG expression. This study showed that Furin, TACE, TNF-alpha, and AREG proteins, detected in acinar and ductal cells of human salivary glands from SS patients, increased remarkably in comparison with biopsies of labial salivary glands from healthy controls. The changes in Furin, TACE, TNF- alpha, and AREG proteins' level detected in salivary glands biopsies of SS patients could be responsible for pro-inflammatory cytokines overexpression characterizing Sjogren's syndrome.