Expression of CFTR, a hallmark gene of ionocytes, is downregulated in salivary glands of Sjogren's syndrome patients.

ABSTRACT: The autoimmune exocrinopathy, Sjögren's syndrome (SjS), is associated with secretory defects in salivary glands. The cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) of the chloride channel is a master regulator of fluid secretion, but its role in SjS has not been investigated. Our research found a link between CFTR and SjS at the genetic and protein levels, as well as through clinical data. We used single-cell RNA sequencing to identify the presence of CFTR in glandular epithelial cells of the human salivary gland (scRNA-seq) and confirmed the difference using immunofluorescence tests in labial glands and clinical data statistics from 44 non-SjS and 36 SjS patients. The changes of CFTR expression in salivary glands of SjS patients was assessed at both mRNA and protein levels. Ac

SUBMITTER: Zhang Q 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9727938 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature