Marisa Wexler, MS, senior science writer —

A clinical trial at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas is currently recruiting people with autoimmune diseases, particularly Sjögren’s syndrome, who also have postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). The study, supported by a $150,000 joint grant from the Sjögren’s Foundation and Dysautonomia International, is…

Note: This story was updated Dec. 21, 2021, to note that Sjögren’s syndrome is not a rare disease, being estimated to affect 1-4 million people in the United States. While the vast majority of people with Sjögren’s syndrome are satisfied with their healthcare provider and medication, more than one…

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), traditionally found in the bone marrow of adults, may help treat Sjögren’s syndrome by improving saliva production and decreasing inflammation, but the underlying processes of these cells need to be studied further, according to a research review. The paper, “Treatment of Sjögren’s…

The Sjögren’s Foundation has given it 2021 Outstanding Abstract Award to two scientists who presented new research about Sjögren’s syndrome at this year’s annual meeting of the American College of Rheumatology. The award “recognizes exceptional research and encourages investigators to continue to focus on Sjögren’s throughout their career,”…

The Sjögren’s Foundation, a nonprofit health organization focused on increasing research, education, and awareness about Sjögren’s syndrome, has announced its most dedicated volunteers who were honored recently at the foundation’s 2021 Virtual National Patient Conference. “Every year, the Foundation recognizes our most dedicated volunteers through awards that are…

The findings of a new study support the development of Incyte‘s parsaclisib as a potential therapy for Sjögren’s syndrome and other autoimmune diseases. Parsaclisib, an oral inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) delta, was found to ease the symptoms of Sjögren’s and other disorders in a study using mouse models.

A new method for dividing people with primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS) into subgroups based on detailed molecular differences may help improve precision treatment for patients, a recent study suggests. The findings “have major implications for the treatment of pSS patients,” researchers wrote, as they could help unravel the causes…

Abnormalities in how mitochondria are “recycled” by cells could contribute to autoimmune diseases like Sjögren’s syndrome, a new study indicates. The study, “IRGM1 links mitochondrial quality control to autoimmunity,” was published in Nature Immunology. Often referred to as the “powerhouse of the cell,” mitochondria are cellular structures that…

Signaling molecules secreted by stem cells in teeth have anti-inflammatory properties that could be useful for the treatment of Sjögren’s syndrome, recent research in mice shows. The findings were published in Stem Cell Research & Therapy, in the study, “Secreted factors from dental pulp stem cells…

A newly established cellular model of the tear gland may be useful for studying Sjögren’s syndrome and other diseases in which the tear glands become damaged, according to researchers. The model was described in a new study, “Exploring the human lacrimal gland using organoids and single-cell…