[B lymphocytes in Sjögren's syndrome]

Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is an autoimmune epithelitis hallmarked by a disruption of epithelial cells, the subsequent lymphocytic infiltration of lachrymal and salivary glands (SGs), and their ensuing dryness. One may posit that SS is triggered by viruses, and/or modulated by sex steroid hormones, and there is indeed a consensus that its aetiology is multifactorial, with genetic factors interacting with environmental agents.

T-cells have long occupied central stage of the debate on the type of lymphocytes involved in the pathogenesis of SS. The relevance of B cells has, however, been emphasized over the past five years and new insights into their functions revealed. Furthermore, increased levels of the B-cell activating factor (BAFF) may be responsible for quantitative and qualitative anomalies of B-cells found in SS such as emergence of self reactive B-cells. This review reports compelling evidence that B-cells are involved in the pathophysiology of SS.

Since SS may thus be conceived as a model for B-cell-induced autoimmunity, it is no surprise that B-cell ablative-treatment has proven to be relatively effective in SS.