Detection of IFN-γ+IL-17+ cells in salivary glands of patients with Sjögren's syndrome and Mikulicz's disease: Potential role of Th17•Th1 in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases

• Published in: Nihon Rinshō Menʾeki Gakkai kaishi Vol. 39; no. 5; pp. 473 - 477
• Main Authors: NANKE, Yuki, KOBASHIGAWA, Tsuyoshi, YAGO, Toru, KAWAMOTO, Manabu, YAMANAKA, Hisashi, KOTAKE, Shigeru
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan 2016
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Arthritis, Juvenile - immunology; Arthritis, Juvenile - pathology; Cell Differentiation; Cell Plasticity - immunology; Female; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Interferon-gamma - biosynthesis; Interleukin-12 - immunology; Interleukin-17 - biosynthesis; Lymph Nodes - cytology; Lymph Nodes - immunology; Middle Aged; Mikulicz' Disease - immunology; Mikulicz' Disease - pathology; Salivary Glands - cytology; Salivary Glands - immunology; Sjogren's Syndrome - immunology; Sjogren's Syndrome - pathology; Th1 Cells - immunology; Th17 Cells - cytology; Th17 Cells - immunology; Th17 Cells - metabolism
• ISSN: 0911-4300; 1349-7413; 1349-7413
• DOI: 10.2177/jsci.39.473

  Objective: Th17 cells, which mainly produce interleukin (IL)-17, have been suggested to play a critical role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. The plasticity of Th17 cells, in which these cells shift to a Th1 phenotype in the presence of IL-12, has recently been reported. However, the role of IL-17 in Sjögren's syndrome (SS) and Mikulicz's disease (MD) currently remains unknown. The submandibular salivary gland and lymph node of a MD patient and the salivary glands of 15 SS patients were collected. IFN-γ+ cells, IL-17+ cells, and IFN-γ+IL-17+ cells were detected by immunohistochemical staining. IFN-γ+ cells, IL-17+ cells, and IFN-γ+IL-17+ cells were detected in the submandibular salivary gland and lymph node of the MD patient and salivary glands of the 15 SS patients. IFN-γ+IL-17+cells in the salivary glands of patients were speculated to be Th1/Th17 cells in the present study. Th1/Th17 cells are known to be derived from Th17 cells and differentiate into Th1 cells, and IL-17-derived Th1 cells have been suggested to induce the deterioration of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). Thus, Th1/Th17 cells may play an important role in the pathogenesis of SS and MD. IFN-γ+, IFN-γ+IL-17+, and IL-17+ cells were detected in the submandibular salivary gland and lymph node of a MD patient and the salivary glands of 15 SS patients.