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- Title
Elevated Serum Levels of Soluble E-Cadherin in Patients with Primary Sjögren's Syndrome.
- Authors
Jonsson, M. V.; Salomonsson, S.; Øijordsbakken, G.; Skarstein, K.
- Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate serum levels of soluble E-cadherin (sE-cadherin) in relation to lymphocytic organization and to characterize the expression of E-cadherin and integrin αEβ7/CD103 in salivary gland epithelium of patients with Sjögren's syndrome (SS). Serum levels of sE-cadherin were significantly increased in SS compared to non-SS and nonsignificantly in germinal centre (GC)+ compared to GC– patients. Membrane-bound E-cadherin was detected on the majority of acinar and ductal epithelial cells in both SS and non-SS. αEβ7/CD103-positive cells were found scattered in focal infiltrates and GC, and in small clusters close to ductal and acinar epithelium at an increased level in SS compared to non-SS. Interestingly, E-cadherin-positive cells were detected randomly dispersed in focal lymphocytic infiltrates in 10/21 patients. By double-labelling, the cells with the E-cadherin-positive component were identified as CD68+ macrophages. Elevated serum levels of sE-cadherin indicate an increased epithelial cell turnover and shedding, and sE-cadherin deserves further analysis as a potential diagnostic tool for SS.
- Subjects
SJOGREN'S syndrome; SALIVARY gland diseases; CADHERINS; CELL adhesion molecules; GENETICS; DIAGNOSIS
- Publication
Scandinavian Journal of Immunology, 2005, Vol 62, Issue 6, p552
- ISSN
0300-9475
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/j.1365-3083.2005.01698.x