Chen Chen-Hung, Chen Hsiang-Cheng, Chang Chi-Ching, Peng Yi-Jen, Lee Chien-Hsing, Shieh Yi-Shing, Hung Yi-Jen, Lin Yuh-Feng
Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Division of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergy, Department of Internal Medicine, Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, School of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan; Division of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergy, Department of Internal Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.
Division of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergy, Department of Internal Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.
PLoS One. 2015 Oct 7;10(10):e0139955. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0139955. eCollection 2015.
Growth arrest-specific protein 6 (Gas6) is a vitamin K-dependent protein expressed by endothelial cells and leukocytes that are involved in cell survival, migration, and proliferation in response to inflammatory processes. The aim of this study was to assess the implications of Gas6 in Sjögren syndrome (SS) and its expression in the labial salivary gland.
A total of 254 adults, including 159 with primary Sjögren syndrome (pSS), 34 with secondary Sjögren syndrome (sSS), and 61 normal controls, were recruited. Plasma Gas6 concentrations were determined, and Gas6 expressions in labial salivary gland (LSG) tissues from controls and pSS and sSS patients were also evaluated. Plasma Gas6 concentrations were significantly lower among patients with pSS than normal controls (13.5 ± 8.6 vs. 19.9 ± 13.4 ng/ml, p < 0.001). There were, however, no significant differences in plasma Gas6 levels between pSS and sSS patients (13.5 ± 8.6 vs. 16.9 ± 11.2 ng/ml, p = 0.068). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, after adjustment for white blood cell count, hemoglobin level, platelet count, lymphocyte count, and C3 and C4 levels, lower plasma Gas6 concentrations were significantly associated with an increased risk of SS. Moreover, by using a semi-quantitative scale to evaluate Gas6 expression in LSG tissues, Gas6 expression was found to be markedly lower in LSG tissues from pSS patients than in tissues from normal controls.
Decreased plasma Gas6 concentration and LSG expression were associated with pSS. As such, Gas6 may represent a novel independent risk factor for pSS, with a potential role in salivary gland inflammation and dysfunction.
生长停滞特异性蛋白6（Gas6）是一种由内皮细胞和白细胞表达的维生素K依赖性蛋白，参与炎症过程中的细胞存活、迁移和增殖。本研究旨在评估Gas6在干燥综合征（SS）中的意义及其在唇腺中的表达。
共招募了254名成年人，包括159例原发性干燥综合征（pSS）患者、34例继发性干燥综合征（sSS）患者和61名正常对照者。测定血浆Gas6浓度，并评估对照组以及pSS和sSS患者唇腺（LSG）组织中Gas6的表达。pSS患者的血浆Gas6浓度显著低于正常对照者（13.5±8.6对19.9±13.4 ng/ml，p<0.001）。然而，pSS和sSS患者之间的血浆Gas6水平无显著差异（13.5±8.6对16.9±11.2 ng/ml，p = 0.068）。在多因素逻辑回归分析中，在调整白细胞计数、血红蛋白水平、血小板计数、淋巴细胞计数以及C3和C4水平后，较低的血浆Gas6浓度与SS风险增加显著相关。此外，通过使用半定量量表评估LSG组织中Gas6的表达，发现pSS患者LSG组织中的Gas6表达明显低于正常对照组织。
血浆Gas6浓度降低和LSG表达与pSS相关。因此，Gas6可能是pSS的一种新的独立危险因素，在唾液腺炎症和功能障碍中具有潜在作用。
