Are the B cells cast with the leading part in the Sjogren's syndrome scenario?

The autoimmune exocrinopathy Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is characterized by mononuclear cell (MNC) infiltrates of exocrine glands and overactivity of B lymphocytes. Although T cells have long been perceived as the prime effectors, increasing evidence indicates that the key role is rather served by...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Oral diseases 2014-09, Vol.20 (6), p.529-537
Main Authors: Pers, J-O, Youinou, P
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Antigens, CD - analysis
B lymphocytes
B-Lymphocyte Subsets - chemistry
B-Lymphocyte Subsets - classification
B-Lymphocyte Subsets - immunology
B-Lymphocyte Subsets - metabolism
BAFF
Cytokines - metabolism
Dentistry
Flt3 ligand
Humans
Immunology
Life Sciences
Lymphocyte Count
non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
Salivary Glands - immunology
Salivary Glands - pathology
Sjogren's Syndrome - diagnosis
Sjogren's Syndrome - drug therapy
Sjogren's Syndrome - immunology
Sjögren's syndrome
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:The autoimmune exocrinopathy Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is characterized by mononuclear cell (MNC) infiltrates of exocrine glands and overactivity of B lymphocytes. Although T cells have long been perceived as the prime effectors, increasing evidence indicates that the key role is rather served by B cells. Among related abnormalities are rheumatoid factor (RF), anti‐SSA/Ro, and anti‐SSB/La antibodies (Ab). Also, supporting this view is our finding of an increase in the number of circulating naïve mature B (Bm) cells, with a reciprocal decrease in that of memory B cells. Furthermore, a ratio of Bm2‐plus‐Bm2′ cells to early Bm5‐plus‐late Bm5 above 5 is diagnostic. This variation partly reflects the migration of active memory B cells into the exocrine glands of the patients, as well as into their skin. More recently, the B‐cell‐activating factor of the TNF family (BAFF) has been endorsed with a pivotal role in B‐cell survival and hence implicated in the pathogenesis of autoimmunity. In practice, B cells have turned quite attractive as a target for biotherapy. For example, treatment with anti‐CD20 Ab has afforded some benefits in this disease, while BAFF blockers are still on the way, but should expand our armamentarium for treating SS. With such B‐cell‐directed biotherapies in mind, we delineate herein the distinguishing traits of B lymphocytes in SS.
ISSN:1354-523X
1601-0825
DOI:10.1111/odi.12153