Expression of the retinoblastoma protein RbAp48 in exocrine glands leads to Sjogren's syndrome-like autoimmune exocrinopathy.

ABSTRACT: Although several autoimmune diseases are known to develop in postmenopausal women, the mechanisms by which estrogen deficiency influences autoimmunity remain unclear. Recently, we found that retinoblastoma-associated protein 48 (RbAp48) induces tissue-specific apoptosis in the exocrine glands depending on the level of estrogen deficiency. In this study, we report that transgenic (Tg) expression of RbAp48 resulted in the development of autoimmune exocrinopathy resembling Sjögren's syndrome. CD4(+) T cell-mediated autoimmune lesions were aggravated with age, in association with autoantibody productions. Surprisingly, we obtained evidence that salivary and lacrimal epithelial cells can produce interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in addition to interleukin-18, which activates IFN regulatory factor-1

SUBMITTER: Ishimaru N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2585852 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature