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Author Spotlight: A Focus on Standardized Salivary Gland Ultrasound Protocol in Connective Tissue Disease Research
Published on: October 13, 2023
Modes and Mechanisms of Salivary Gland Epithelial Cell Death in Sjogren's Syndrome
Jiannan Zhou1, Janak Lal Pathak1, Qianwen Liu1
1Guangdong Engineering Research Center of Oral Restoration and Reconstruction, Affiliated Stomatology Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510182, China.
Abstract:
Sjogren's syndrome is an autoimmune disease in middle and old-aged women with a dry mucosal surface, which is caused by the dysfunction of secretory glands, such as the oral cavity, eyeballs, and pharynx. Pathologically, Sjogren's syndrome are characterized by lymphocyte infiltration into the exocrine glands and epithelial cell destruction caused by autoantibodies Ro/SSA and La/SSB. At present, the exact pathogenesis of Sjogren's syndrome is unclear. Evidence suggests epithelial cell death and the subsequent dysfunction of salivary glands as the main causes of xerostomia. This review summarizes the modes of salivary gland epithelial cell death and their role in Sjogren's syndrome progression. The molecular mechanisms involved in salivary gland epithelial cell death during Sjogren's syndrome as potential leads to treating the disease are also discussed.
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