Secretory Physiology Section, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2012 Sep 4;109(36):14544-9. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1207354109. Epub 2012 Aug 17.
Primary Sjögren's Syndrome (pSS) is an autoimmune disease involving salivary and other exocrine glands that leads to progressive lymphocytic infiltration into the gland, tissue damage, and secretory defects. The mechanism underlying this disease remains poorly understood. Here we report that mice with T-cell-targeted deletion of Stromal Interaction Molecule (STIM) 1 and STIM2 [double-knockout (DKO)] mice develop spontaneous and severe pSS-like autoimmune disease, displaying major hallmarks of the disease. In DKO mice, diffuse lymphocytic infiltration was seen in submandibular glands, a major target of pSS, by age 6 wk, progressing to severe inflammation by age 12 wk. Sjögren's syndrome-specific autoantibodies (SSA/Ro and SSB/La) were detected in the serum, and progressive salivary gland destruction and loss of fluid secretion were also seen. Importantly, we report that peripheral blood mononuclear cells as well as lymphocytic infiltrates in submandibular glands from patients with pSS demonstrated significant reductions in STIM1 and STIM2 proteins. Store-operated calcium entry was also reduced in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from pSS patients compared with those from healthy controls. Thus, deficiency of STIM1 and STIM2 proteins in T cells, and consequent defects in Ca(2+) signaling, are associated with salivary gland autoimmunopathy in DKO mice and pSS patients. These data reveal a previously unreported link between STIM1 and STIM2 proteins and pSS.
原发性干燥综合征(pSS)是一种自身免疫性疾病,涉及唾液腺和其他外分泌腺,导致淋巴细胞进行性浸润腺体、组织损伤和分泌缺陷。这种疾病的发病机制尚不清楚。在这里,我们报告说,T 细胞靶向缺失基质相互作用分子(STIM)1 和 STIM2 的小鼠[双敲除(DKO)]会自发产生严重的 pSS 样自身免疫性疾病,并表现出该疾病的主要特征。在 DKO 小鼠中,弥漫性淋巴细胞浸润可见于下颌下腺,这是 pSS 的主要靶标,在 6 周龄时出现,在 12 周龄时进展为严重炎症。在血清中检测到干燥综合征特异性自身抗体(SSA/Ro 和 SSB/La),并且还观察到唾液腺进行性破坏和液体分泌丧失。重要的是,我们报告说,pSS 患者的外周血单核细胞和下颌下腺的淋巴细胞浸润中,STIM1 和 STIM2 蛋白显著减少。与健康对照组相比,pSS 患者的外周血单核细胞中的钙库操纵性钙内流也减少。因此,T 细胞中 STIM1 和 STIM2 蛋白的缺乏以及随后的钙信号缺陷与 DKO 小鼠和 pSS 患者的唾液腺自身免疫病有关。这些数据揭示了 STIM1 和 STIM2 蛋白与 pSS 之间以前未报道的联系。