Do Genetic Alterations in Sex Steroid Receptors Contribute to Lacrimal Gland Disease in Sjogren's Syndrome?

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Defects in sex steroid receptors have been linked to the onset, progression and severity, as well as the sex-related prevalence, of a variety of autoimmune disorders, including lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis and diabetes. We hypothesize that defects in estrogen receptor alpha (ESR1), estrogen receptor beta (ESR2) and/or the androgen receptor (AR) may also contribute to the development of lacrimal gland autoimmune sequelae in Sjögren's syndrome. To begin to test this hypothesis, we examined whether mutations exist in the coding regions of ESR1, ESR2 and AR transcripts in lacrimal tissues of mouse models of Sjögren's syndrome. METHODS: Lacrimal and submandibular glands were collected from adult MRL/MpJ-Tnfrsf6(lpr), nonobese diabetic and/or BALB/c mice. Tissues w

SUBMITTER: Richards SM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2789469 | biostudies-literature | 2009

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature