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Review
. 2009 Nov;15(8):519-26.
doi: 10.1111/j.1601-0825.2009.01582.x. Epub 2009 Jun 10.

Cytokines in Sjögren's syndrome

N Roescher  1 , P P Tak, G G Illei
Affiliations
Review

Cytokines in Sjögren's syndrome

N Roescher et al. Oral Dis. 2009 Nov.

Abstract

Cytokines play a central role in the regulation of immunity and are often found to be deregulated in autoimmune diseases. Sjögren's syndrome is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by inflammation and loss of secretory function of the salivary and lachrymal glands. This review highlights the current knowledge of the expression and the function of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines both locally and systemically in Sjögren's syndrome patients. In the salivary glands, saliva and serum of these patients, many pro-inflammatory cytokines are upregulated. Concomitantly, most anti-inflammatory cytokines are not detectable or are expressed at low levels. Besides a role in inflammation, cytokines are also thought to be involved in salivary gland dysfunction by directly interfering with the epithelial cells in the glands. Future research on the role of novel cytokines in Sjögren's syndrome in combination with a better understanding of the effect of cytokines on exocrine dysfunction will aide the identification of the best therapeutic targets for Sjögren's syndrome.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The cytokine profile found in Sjögren’s Syndrome (SS) is imbalanced with the overexpression of numerous pro-inflammatory cytokines (on the left) versus low or undetectable levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines (on the right). The bipolar interleukin 10 (IL10) is highly expressed and may exert both anti- and pro-inflammatory effects in SS. The expression levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL17 and IL23 are still unknown. (TGF= transforming growth factor, IFN= interferon, BAFF= B cell activating factor).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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