Alunno Alessia, Ibba-Manneschi Lidia, Bistoni Onelia, Rosa Irene, Caterbi Sara, Gerli Roberto, Manetti Mirko
Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Section of Anatomy and Histology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
J Cell Mol Med. 2015 Jul;19(7):1689-96. doi: 10.1111/jcmm.12545. Epub 2015 Mar 6.
It has been recently reported that telocytes, a stromal (interstitial) cell subset involved in the control of local tissue homeostasis, are hampered in the target organs of inflammatory/autoimmune disorders. Since no data concerning telocytes in minor salivary glands (MSGs) are currently available, aim of the study was to evaluate telocyte distribution in MSGs with normal architecture, non-specific chronic sialadenitis (NSCS) and primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS)-focal lymphocytic sialadenitis. Twelve patients with pSS and 16 sicca non-pSS subjects were enrolled in the study. MSGs were evaluated by haematoxylin and eosin staining and immunofluorescence for CD3/CD20 and CD21 to assess focus score, Tarpley biopsy score, T/B cell segregation and germinal center (GC)-like structures. Telocytes were identified by immunoperoxidase-based immunohistochemistry for CD34 and CD34/platelet-derived growth factor receptor α double immunofluorescence. Telocytes were numerous in the stromal compartment of normal MSGs, where their long cytoplasmic processes surrounded vessels and encircled both the excretory ducts and the secretory units. In NSCS, despite the presence of a certain degree of inflammation, telocytes were normally represented. Conversely, telocytes were markedly reduced in MSGs from pSS patients compared to normal and NSCS MSGs. Such a decrease was associated with both worsening of glandular inflammation and progression of ectopic lymphoid neogenesis, periductal telocytes being reduced in the presence of smaller inflammatory foci and completely absent in the presence of GC-like structures. Our findings suggest that a loss of MSG telocytes might have important pathophysiological implications in pSS. The specific pro-inflammatory cytokine milieu of pSS MSGs might be one of the causes of telocyte loss.
最近有报道称，作为参与局部组织稳态控制的一种基质（间质）细胞亚群，端细胞在炎症/自身免疫性疾病的靶器官中受到损害。由于目前尚无关于小唾液腺（MSG）中端细胞的相关数据，本研究的目的是评估端细胞在结构正常的MSG、非特异性慢性涎腺炎（NSCS）和原发性干燥综合征（pSS）-局灶性淋巴细胞性涎腺炎中的分布情况。12例pSS患者和16例干燥非pSS受试者纳入本研究。通过苏木精-伊红染色以及针对CD3/CD20和CD21的免疫荧光评估MSG，以评估灶性评分、塔尔普利活检评分、T/B细胞分离和生发中心（GC）样结构。通过基于免疫过氧化物酶的免疫组织化学检测CD34以及CD34/血小板衍生生长因子受体α双重免疫荧光来鉴定端细胞。端细胞在正常MSG的基质区室中数量众多，其长细胞质突起围绕血管，并环绕排泄管和分泌单位。在NSCS中，尽管存在一定程度的炎症，但端细胞数量正常。相反，与正常和NSCS的MSG相比，pSS患者的MSG中端细胞明显减少。这种减少与腺体炎症的加重和异位淋巴新生的进展相关，在较小炎症灶存在时，导管周围端细胞减少，而在存在GC样结构时则完全缺失。我们的研究结果表明，MSG端细胞的丧失可能在pSS中具有重要的病理生理意义。pSS的MSG中特定的促炎细胞因子环境可能是端细胞丧失的原因之一。
