A Distinguishable Peripheral Blood and Conjunctival Transcriptome and Gut Microbiome in Sjögren's Disease: A Pilot...

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Genomics
• Microbiome research

Background:

• Sjögren's disease is an autoimmune disorder affecting exocrine glands.
• Understanding the molecular basis and microbiome in Sjögren's disease is crucial for developing targeted therapies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To create a multi-tissue molecular atlas of Sjögren's disease using RNA sequencing.
• To identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and microbial profiles in Sjögren's disease patients.
• To characterize ocular surface and gut microbiome in Sjögren's disease.

Main Methods:

• High-throughput RNA sequencing was performed on peripheral blood, conjunctival, and rectal swabs.
• Participants included 11 Sjögren's disease patients and 4 non-Sjögren's controls.
• DEGs and microbial profiles were analyzed to differentiate between groups.

Main Results:

• Upregulated type I interferon and complement pathways were found in the peripheral blood of Sjögren's patients.
• Novel conjunctival pathways including intracellular vesicle trafficking, immunometabolism, and cytoskeletal remodeling were identified.
• Distinct gut microbiome profiles, with increased Lactobacillus reuteri, were observed in Sjögren's disease participants.

Conclusions:

• RNA sequencing confirmed known pathways and identified novel molecular signatures in Sjögren's disease.
• Findings expand understanding of Sjögren's disease mechanisms beyond traditional immune pathways.
• Distinct gut microbiome profiles suggest potential therapeutic targets and patient stratification strategies for Sjögren's disease, pending larger cohort validation.