Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 9, 2025
Author Spotlight: Oral Candida Diagnosis to Advance Clinical Treatment Regimen for pSS Patients
Published on: March 1, 2024
A Distinguishable Peripheral Blood and Conjunctival Transcriptome and Gut Microbiome in Sjögren's Disease: A Pilot
Robert D Nguyen1, Jeremy Nortey, Elisabeth Gebreegziabher
1Francis I. Proctor Foundation (R.D.N., J.N., E.G., A.H., L.Z., C.C., T.D., T.M.L., J.A.G.), University of California, San Francisco, CA; Department of Ophthalmology (T.D., T.M.L., J.A.G.), University of California, San Francisco, CA; Department of Ophthalmology (J.N.), Northwestern University, Chicago, IL.
Objective:
To create a comprehensive multi-tissue molecular atlas of Sjögren's disease by using unbiased RNA sequencing to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in peripheral blood and conjunctival transcriptomes, and to characterize the ocular surface and gut microbiome profiles in participants classified as Sjögren's versus non-Sjögren's disease.
Methods:
This exploratory study used high-throughput RNA sequencing to analyze peripheral blood, conjunctival swabs, and rectal swabs from participants (11 classified as Sjögren's disease and four classified as non-Sjögren's) to identify DEGs and microbial profiles that could distinguish these groups.
Results:
Differential gene expression analysis revealed upregulated type I interferon ( IFI44L , OASL , USP18 ) and complement pathways ( SERPING1 ) in peripheral blood, alongside activation of several novel pathways in the conjunctiva including intracellular vesicle trafficking ( HIP1, GOLIM4, FIG4 ), immunometabolism ( CERS5, HPRT1, ULK2 ), and cytoskeletal remodeling ( MARK1, IQCB1) in Sjögren's disease. In addition, distinct gut microbiome compositions were observed in Sjögren's disease participants, characterized by an increased presence of Lactobacillus reuteri species.
Conclusions:
Using unbiased RNA sequencing, we confirmed the role of type I interferon and complement pathways in the peripheral blood and identified novel molecular signatures in the conjunctiva of Sjögren's disease participants. These newly identified pathways-involved in intracellular vesicle trafficking, immunometabolism, and cytoskeletal remodeling-expand our understanding of disease mechanisms beyond traditional immune pathways. In addition, we found distinct gut microbial profiles in Sjögren's disease participants, although ocular surface microbiome showed no significant differences. Such findings may suggest possible new therapeutic targets and allow for Sjögren's disease patient stratification. However, validation in larger cohorts is needed to establish clinical significance and potential applications in Sjögren's disease.
More Related Videos
07:25Author Spotlight: A Focus on Standardized Salivary Gland Ultrasound Protocol in Connective Tissue Disease Research
Published on: October 13, 2023
10:21Author Spotlight: Exploring the Role of Inflammation in the Co-occurrence of Primary Sjogren's Syndrome and Lung Adenocarcinoma
Published on: September 20, 2024
Related Concept Videos
01:30Inflammatory Bowel Disease II: Crohn's Disease
Inflammatory bowel disease, commonly known as IBD, refers to a collection of disorders that lead to persistent inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. The two types of IBD are ulcerative colitis, which impacts the colon, and Crohn's disease, which can involve any part of the gastrointestinal segment.
Crohn's disease
Crohn's disease is a chronic, systemic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that predominantly affects the gastrointestinal tract. It is marked by...
01:29Autoimmune Disorders
Concept and Mechanism of Autoimmune Diseases
The immune...
01:15Secondary Lymphoid Organs
The spleen is a vital organ in the lymphatic system, nestled in the upper left side of the abdomen. It is composed of two primary regions: the red pulp and the white pulp, each having distinct functions. The red pulp performs a significant role in blood filtration. It efficiently purges the blood of old or damaged red blood cells and...
01:26Sputum Studies I: Gram Stain, cytology, and Acid-fast smear and culture
Gram Stain
The Gram Stain is an integral part of sputum studies. It involves the staining of sputum, which permits...
01:20Sputum Studies II: Culture and Sensitivity
Sputum culture and sensitivity is a medical procedure used to diagnose bacterial infections in the respiratory tract and select the most appropriate antibiotics for treatment. This process involves analyzing sputum samples of thick and opaque secretions produced in the lungs and airways. These samples are collected from patients and then sent to the laboratory for analysis.
The test can identify various pathogens responsible for respiratory infections, including Streptococcus,...
01:27Psychoneuroimmunology: Cardiovascular Disease
A key area of focus in PNI is the relationship between stress and coronary...