Project description:We found that the transfer of PBMCs depleted of CD8 T cells into immunodeficient mice resulted in the development of Sjögren's syndrome-like salivary gland symptoms without causing GVHD. To characterize the human immune cells infiltrating the salivary glands, we examined the profiles of human immune cells in the salivary glands or peripheral blood of humanized mice by 10x Genomics single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq). We revealed that human Tph-like cells co-expressing IL-21 and CXCL13 were highly infiltrated in the salivary glands of CD8 T cell-depleted humanized mice.
Project description:Genome wide DNA methylation profiling of human labial salivary gland (LSG) biopsy samples obtained from 28 female members of the Sjögren's International Collaborative Clinical Alliance (SICCA) Registry. The Illumina HumanMethylation450 BeadChip platform was used to obtain DNA methylation profiles across more than 450,000 highly informative CpG sites. Samples included 15 non-case glands, and 13 glands from patients with Sjögren's Syndrome.
Project description:To study the difference of gene expression profile in minor salivary glands of female patients with primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS) and healthy volunteers
Project description:Sjögren's disease (SjD) is an autoimmune condition characterized by the dysfunction of the salivary and lacrimal glands. The study aimed to decipher the pathogenic cell populations and their immunological pathways in the salivary glands. We further determined the therapeutic effect of inhibiting DOCK2 shared by novel clusters of CD8Cd8+ T cells in a SjD mouse model.
Project description:The circumvallate papillae (CVP) and foliate papillae (FoP) of the posterior tongue contain taste buds in close proximity to specialized salivary glands, known as von Ebner and minor salivary glands, respectively. The developmental relationship between taste buds and these salivary glands remains largely unexplored. Lineage tracing studies in mice have revealed that Lgr5 marks taste bud stem cells. Here, we report single-cell RNA sequencing of the entire CVP and FoP of mice, yielding transcriptional profiles of cells from tongue surface epithelium, taste buds and the associated salivary glands. We unveiled a developmental trajectory in which taste buds, the associated salivary glands and the non-taste tongue surface epithelium originate from a common Lgr5+ cell. We describe long-term organoid culture conditions for these cells and confirm their tripotency at the clonal level in vitro. CVP and FoP harbor chemosensory units consisting of taste bud and salivary gland cells derived from the same parental Lgr5+ stem cell.
Project description:The circumvallate papillae (CVP) and foliate papillae (FoP) of the posterior tongue contain taste buds in close proximity to specialized salivary glands, known as von Ebner and minor salivary glands, respectively. The developmental relationship between taste buds and these salivary glands remains largely unexplored. Lineage tracing studies in mice have revealed that Lgr5 marks taste bud stem cells. Here, we report single-cell RNA sequencing of the entire CVP and FoP of mice, yielding transcriptional profiles of cells from tongue surface epithelium, taste buds and the associated salivary glands. We unveiled a developmental trajectory in which taste buds, the associated salivary glands and the non-taste tongue surface epithelium originate from a common Lgr5+ cell. We describe long-term organoid culture conditions for these cells and confirm their tripotency at the clonal level in vitro. CVP and FoP harbor chemosensory units consisting of taste bud and salivary gland cells derived from the same parental Lgr5+ stem cell.
Project description: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.
Project description:Analysis of targets organs might help to get new insights into the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. We used global gene expression profiling of minor salivary glands to identify distinct patterns of gene expression in patients with primary Sjögrens syndrome (pSS), a frequent and prototype systemic autoimmune disease. Gene expression signature allowed to distinguish most patients with pSS from healthy controls