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A Novel Murine Model of Sjögren's Syndrome Using Lacrimal Autoantigen

ABSTRACT: Purpose: Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is a group of chronic autoimmune diseases primarily targeting exocrine glands, including the lacrimal glands (LG). Involvement of the lacrimal glands leads to severe dry eye, also known as Sjögren’s syndrome-associated dry eye (SSDE). Current, available animal models of SS are achieved by using autoantigens from salivary gland. This study aims to establish a SSDE mouse model using lacrimal glands as autoantigen. Methods: To establish the LGSS model, autoimmune responses were induced in mice using homogenized lacrimal gland proteins. LGSS mice were evaluated at various timepoints after immunization to determine SS development. SS phenotype such as tear and saliva secretion, lymphocyte infiltration in the lacrimal and salivary glands and serum autoantibody levels was assessed. Immune cell profiles in the spleen and cervical lymph nodes were evaluated via flow cytometry. In addition, corneal epithelial intactness, goblet cell density, lacrimal gland injury were evaluated to assess lacrimal gland involvement and secondary ocular surface damage. RNA sequencing and gene enrichment analysis of diseased lacrimal glands were performed. Results: LGSS mice demonstrated a reduced tear and saliva secretion, increased lymphocyte infiltration, and elevated autoantibody levels that are similar to common SS mice. Additionally, the established LGSS mice demonstrated increased populations of Th1 and Th17 cell, along with lacrimal gland and ocular surface damage. RNA sequencing revealed that LGSS mice shared a common genetic profile with NOD mice, the spontaneous SS model, such as Parp9, Cdkn2c, and Ifi35. Additionally, LGSS mice exhibited several uniquely expressed genes, including metabolism-related genes (Cbs, Dlst, Sardh) and genes associated with cellular processes (Actc1, Tnnc1). Conclusion: The LGSS mice have been shown that successfully replicates several key features of SS and demonstrates significant lacrimal gland and ocular surface damages, making it a valuable animal model to study SSDE.

ORGANISM(S): Mus musculus

PROVIDER: GSE285438 | GEO | 2025/12/25

REPOSITORIES: GEO

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Project description:Sjogren’s syndrome (SS) is characterized by dysfunctional mucous membranes and dysregulated moisture-secreting glands resulting in various symptoms, including dry mouth and dry eyes. Here, we wanted to profile and compare the tears and saliva proteomes of SS patients to healthy controls. Tear and saliva samples were collected and subjected to an isotopic dimethylation labeling shotgun proteomics workflow to identify alterations in protein levels. In tear samples, we identified 83 upregulated and 112 downregulated proteins. Altered pathways in SS patients’ tears included leukocyte transendothelial migration, neutrophil degranulation, and post-translation protein phosphorylation. In healthy controls’ tears, enriched proteins for glycolysis, amino acid metabolism and apoptotic signaling pathway were identified. In saliva, we identified 108 upregulated and 45 downregulated proteins. Altered pathways in SS patients’ saliva included cornification, sensory perception to taste and neutrophil degranulation. In healthy controls’ saliva, enriched proteins for JAK-STAT signaling after interleukin-12 stimulation, phagocytosis and glycolysis in senescence were identified. Dysregulated protease activity is implicated in the initiation of inflammation and immune cell recruitment in SS. We identified 20 proteases and protease inhibitors in tears and 18 in saliva which are differentially expressed between SS patients and healthy controls. Next, we quantified endogenous proteoglycan 4 (PRG4), a mucin-like glycoprotein previously shown to be present in tears and never studied in saliva, in tear wash and saliva samples via a bead-based immune assay. We identified decreased levels of PRG4 in SS patients’ tear wash compared to normal samples. Conversely, in saliva, we found elevated levels of PRG4 concentration and visualized PRG4 expression in human parotid gland via immunohistological staining. These findings improve our mechanistic understanding of the disease and changes in SS patients’ protein expression will help identify new potential drug targets. PRG4 is among the promising targets, which we identified here, in saliva, for the first time.

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A Novel Murine Model of Sjögren's Syndrome Using Lacrimal Autoantigen

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