IngentaConnect Abnormal expression and function of Fas ligand of lachrymal gland...

Authors: TSUBOTA, K.; FUJITA, H.¹; TADANO, K.¹; ONODA, N.²; TSUZAKA, K.²; TAKEUCHI, T.²

Source: Clinical & Experimental Immunology, Volume 129, Number 1, July 2002 , pp. 177-182(6)

Abstract:

SUMMARY

The objective of our study was to investigate the possibility of Fas ligand protein abnormalities in certain types of Sjögren's syndrome patients with enlarged exocrine glands. Fas ligand expression by lymphocytes infiltrating the lachrymal glands and by peripheral blood monocytes in Sjögren's syndrome patients with enlarged exocrine glands was assessed immunohistologically and by immunoblotting. Cytotoxicity of peripheral blood monocytes and sensitivity to steroids in Sjögren's syndrome patients with enlarged exocrine glands were studied by functional assay. Minimal Fas ligand expression was detected in the lymphocytes of the lachrymal glands and a decreased level of Fas ligand was found in peripheral blood monocytes as assessed by immunoblotting. Functional assay confirmed the decreased cytotoxicity of lymphocytes in Sjögren's syndrome patients with enlarged exocrine glands, and that it is not affected by anti-Fas ligand antibody. By contrast, the sensitivity of lymphocytes in Sjögren's syndrome patients with enlarged exocrine glands to steroids was increased. These observations suggest that abnormal expression and function of Fas ligand occurs in Sjögren's syndrome patients with enlarged exocrine glands.

Keywords: apoptosis Fas lachrymal gland salivary gland T cell

Document Type: Research article

DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2249.2002.01882.x

Affiliations: 1: Department of Ophthalmology, Tokyo Dental College, Sugano 5-11-13 Ichikawa-shi, Chiba 272-8513, 2: Second Department of Internal Medicine, Saitama Medical School, Iruma-gun, Saitama, 350-0451 Japan

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Abnormal expression and function of Fas ligand of lachrymal glands and peripheral blood in Sjögren's syndrome patients with enlarged exocrine glands