Fox R I, Howell F V
Department of Basic and Clinical Research, Research Institute of Scripps Clinic, La Jolla.
Ric Clin Lab. 1987 Oct-Dec;17(4):273-7. doi: 10.1007/BF02886911.
Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is an autoimmune disease characterized by lymphocytic infiltration and destruction of salivary and lacrimal glands. This condition may be limited to glandular tissues or may be associated with other autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis or systemic lupus erythematosus. Since the environmental factors that initiate SS are unknown, we have investigated the potential role of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), cytomegalovirus (CMV) and other viruses. We observed that epithelial cells in salivary gland biopsies of SS patients contained antigens reactive with monoclonal antibodies against EBV-associated antigens. These antigens were not found in other tissues of SS patients and were absent in salivary gland biopsies from normals and patients with other autoimmune diseases lacking SS. Also, the content of EBV DNA in the saliva of SS patients was significantly greater than in age- and sex-matched controls or individuals with other autoimmune disorders. These studies provide one of the first examples where a specific viral agent may be implicated in perpetuating a chronic autoimmune disease. However, great caution must be used before an etiologic role can be attributed to an ubiquitous agent such as EBV.
干燥综合征（SS）是一种自身免疫性疾病，其特征为淋巴细胞浸润以及唾液腺和泪腺的破坏。这种病症可能局限于腺组织，也可能与其他自身免疫性疾病相关，如类风湿性关节炎或系统性红斑狼疮。由于引发干燥综合征的环境因素尚不清楚，我们研究了爱泼斯坦-巴尔病毒（EBV）、巨细胞病毒（CMV）及其他病毒的潜在作用。我们观察到，干燥综合征患者唾液腺活检中的上皮细胞含有与抗EBV相关抗原的单克隆抗体发生反应的抗原。这些抗原在干燥综合征患者的其他组织中未发现，在正常人和缺乏干燥综合征的其他自身免疫性疾病患者的唾液腺活检中也不存在。此外，干燥综合征患者唾液中EBV DNA的含量显著高于年龄和性别匹配的对照组或患有其他自身免疫性疾病的个体。这些研究首次提供了一个具体病毒因子可能与慢性自身免疫性疾病持续存在有关的例子。然而，在将病因作用归因于像EBV这样普遍存在的因子之前，必须极为谨慎。
