Lymphocytic infiltration leads to degradation of lacrimal gland extracellular matrix structures in NOD mice exhibiting a Sjögren's syndrome-like exocrinopathy.
Exp Eye Res
; 90(2): 223-37, 2010 Feb.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-19852957
We previously reported that lacrimal glands (LGs) of male non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice, an established mouse model of autoimmune inflammatory LG disease that displays many features of human LGs in patients afflicted with Sjögren's syndrome (SjS), exhibit significant degradation of extracellular matrix (ECM) structures as well as increased expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). The purpose of the current study was to expand the spectrum of proteases identified, to clarify their probable origin as well as to identify the contribution of these changes to disease pathogenesis. We explored in depth the changes in ECM structures and ECM protease expression at the onset of disease (6 weeks) versus late stage disease (18 weeks) in male NOD mouse LGs, relative to LGs of age-matched male NODscid, a severely immunocompromised congenic strain, and healthy BALB/c mice. LG tissues were examined using routine histological, immunohistochemical, Western Blot and gene expression analyses novel multiphoton imaging technologies. We further characterized the profile of infiltrating immune cells under each condition using flow cytometry. Our results show that the initial infiltrating cells at 6 weeks of age are responsible for increased MMP and cathepsin H expression and therefore initiate the LG ECM degradation in NOD mice. More importantly, NODscid mice exhibited normal LG ECM structures, indicating the lymphocytes seen in the LGs of NOD mice are responsible for the degradation of the LG ECM. The disease-related remodeling of LG ECM structures may play a crucial role in altering the acinar signaling environment, disrupting the signaling scaffolds within the cells, which are required to mobilize the exocytotic trafficking machinery, ultimately leading to a loss of LG function in patients afflicted with SjS.
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Linfocitos
/
Síndrome de Sjögren
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Proteínas de la Matriz Extracelular
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Metaloproteinasas de la Matriz
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Matriz Extracelular
Límite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Exp Eye Res
Año:
2010
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Estados Unidos
Pais de publicación:
Reino Unido