biostudies-literatureAntiochos BAmerican Cancer SocietyNIDCR NIH HHSJerome L. Greene FoundationNIAMS NIH HHSNIH120179https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC6237237biostudies-literatureUnknown3(18)IFN-inducible protein 16 (IFI16) is an innate immune sensor that forms filamentous oligomers when activated by double-stranded DNA (dsDNA). Anti-IFI16 autoantibodies occur in patients with Sjögren's syndrome (SS) and associate with severe phenotypic features. We undertook this study to determine whether the structural and functional properties of IFI16 play a role in its status as an SS autoantigen. IFI16 immunostaining in labial salivary glands (LSGs) yielded striking evidence of filamentous IFI16 structures in the cytoplasm of ductal epithelial cells, representing the first microscopic description of IFI16 oligomerization in human tissues, to our knowledge. Transfection of cultured epithelial cells with dsDNA triggered the formation of cytoplasmic IFI16 filaments with similar morphology JCI insightIFI16 filament formation in salivary epithelial cells shapes the anti-IFI16 immune response in Sjogren's syndrome.PMC6237237RO1 DE12354 (AR)T32 AR048522R01 DE012354Research Scholars Grant DMC-RG-15-224P30 AR070254T32 AR48522P30 AR070252Scholar AwardSohn JAntiochos BMatyszewski MCasciola-Rosen LRosen AfalseIFI16 filament formation in salivary epithelial cells shapes the anti-IFI16 immune response in Sjogren's syndrome.IFN-inducible protein 16 (IFI16) is an innate immune sensor that forms filamentous oligomers when activated by double-stranded DNA (dsDNA). Anti-IFI16 autoantibodies occur in patients with Sjögren's syndrome (SS) and associate with severe phenotypic features. We undertook this study to determine whether the structural and functional properties of IFI16 play a role in its status as an SS autoantigen. IFI16 immunostaining in labial salivary glands (LSGs) yielded striking evidence of filamentous IFI16 structures in the cytoplasm of ductal epithelial cells, representing the first microscopic description of IFI16 oligomerization in human tissues, to our knowledge. Transfection of cultured epithelial cells with dsDNA triggered the formation of cytoplasmic IFI16 filaments with similar morphology 2018-01-01T00:00:00Z2018 Sep2026-07-15T17:32:35.661Z2026-07-07T03:10:03.097ZS-EPMC62372373023227610.1172/jci.insight.120179