Reduced Mucin-7 (Muc7) Sialylation and Altered Saliva Rheology in Sjogren's Syndrome Associated Oral Dryness.

ABSTRACT: Sjögren's syndrome is a chronic autoimmune disorder characterized by lymphocytic infiltration and hypofunction of salivary and lacrimal glands. This loss of salivary function leads to oral dryness, impaired swallowing and speech, and increased infection and is associated with other autoimmune diseases and an increased risk of certain cancers. Despite the implications of this prevalent disease, diagnosis currently takes years, partly due to the diversity in patient presentation. Saliva is a complicated biological fluid with major constituents, including heavily glycosylated mucins MUC5B and MUC7, important for its viscoelastic and hydrating and lubricating properties. This study investigated Sjögren's patient's perception of dryness (bother index questionnaires) along with the rheological,

SUBMITTER: Chaudhury NM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4813687 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature