Animal models of Sjögren's syndrome

Sjögren's syndrome is an autoimmune, chronic inflammatory disease characterized by focal mononuclear cell infiltration of exocrine tissues, accompanied by loss of secretory function. The pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases is complex and, therefore, difficult to study in vitro. As of today, the role of initiating factors remains obscure, clinical symptoms develop late, and there are no tests for early diagnosis of SS. Hence, the disease is difficult to detect and treat. Animal models may provide insights into the identification of target antigens, narrowing the relevant pathological immune mechanisms, and to study the evolution of tissue pathology. This review summarizes current knowledge on murine strains, both spontaneous and induced models, used to study Sjögren's syndrome. Special attention is paid to the characteristics of different strains regarding their properties to mimic specific aspects or stages of the disease.