Sjögren's syndrome: from pathogenesis to novel therapeutic targets

Abstract

Primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease, characterised by a chronic infiltration of exocrine glands, mainly salivary glands, with the histological features of focal lymphocytic sialoadenitis. Disease spectrum is broad and the occurrence of several extra-glandular manifestations, and in rare cases lymphoma development, is well known. A specific approved treatment for pSS is still lacking and the detection of novel therapeutic biologic target is ongoing. The identification of biological fingerprints seems essential in order to stratify patients both in clinical trials and in real life. Discovery of new components of the inflammatory response will be the key in the future for the identification of novel additional therapeutic options.