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. 1998 Dec;41(12):2238-48.
doi: 10.1002/1529-0131(199812)41:12<2238::AID-ART20>3.0.CO;2-V.

Detection of anti-Ro/SSA and anti-La/SSB autoantibody-producing cells in salivary glands from patients with Sjögren's syndrome

P Tengnér  1 , A K Halse, H J Haga, R Jonsson, M Wahren-Herlenius
Affiliations

Detection of anti-Ro/SSA and anti-La/SSB autoantibody-producing cells in salivary glands from patients with Sjögren's syndrome

P Tengnér et al. Arthritis Rheum. 1998 Dec.

Abstract

Objective: To investigate and identify the presence of cells producing anti-Ro/SSA and anti-La/SSB autoantibodies in salivary glands from patients with Sjögren's syndrome (SS).

Methods: Submucosal salivary gland biopsy samples from 10 SS patients (8 with and 2 without circulating Ro and La autoantibodies) and 14 control subjects were evaluated. Frozen tissue sections were immunostained by an avidin-biotin complex technique, using biotinylated recombinant Ro and La proteins as detection reagents. Autoantibody levels in SS patient sera were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results: Cells producing autoantibodies to the Ro 52-kd, Ro 60-kd, and La proteins were recorded in 8, 6, and 7 of the 10 SS patient biopsy samples, respectively. Samples from the 2 SS patients without circulating Ro and La autoantibodies were negative for these autoantibody-producing cells, as were all control biopsy samples. A strong positive correlation between the presence of autoantibodies in sera and the presence of autoantibody-producing cells in glandular biopsy tissues was evident. The number of autoantibody-producing cells and the serum autoantibody levels were also correlated (r(s)=0.94, P < 0.0001).

Conclusion: Using a novel technique, we have demonstrated the presence of Ro and La autoantibody-producing cells in salivary gland biopsy tissues from patients with SS. These findings indicate that anti-Ro/ SSA and anti-La/SSB autoantibodies are produced and are present at sites of inflammation and indicate their potential involvement in the autoimmune exocrinopathy of this disease.

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