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Immune macrophages — immune cells that fight infection — can mount distinct responses to specific pathogens, based on how a single signaling molecule behaves over time in the presence of that stimuli, a recent study found. However, macrophages in a Sjögren’s syndrome mouse model lack some of…

People with early-onset primary Sjögren’s syndrome may need more intensive glucocorticoid and immunosuppressant therapy, closer follow-up, and regular monitoring than is customary, due to greater immune system activation and a less favorable prognosis than patients with later-onset disease, a study suggests. The study, “Patients with early-onset primary…

An accumulation of damaged, pro-inflammatory immune cells, called senescence-associated T-cells, in salivary glands likely underlies gland dysfunction and dry mouth symptoms commonly seen with aging and in Sjögren’s syndrome patients, a study in mice suggests. Notably, this senescent T-cell buildup was found to be associated with an increased production…

Infections with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), the most common member of the herpes virus family, may contribute to the development of Sjögren’s syndrome by increasing the proportion of immune cells with autoimmune functions, a recent study suggests. Therapies targeting the interaction between EBV and activated…

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…

Women with primary Sjögren’s syndrome experience more negative stressful life events than healthy people in the year before symptom onset, and the number of these negative events is associated with more severe disease activity, a study has found. “These results suggest that we…

Oral treatment with a molecule produced by bacteria, called colonization factor antigen I, can reduce or halt the progression of Sjögren’s syndrome, a mouse study suggests. Researchers believe these findings provide the basis for future testing in patients with Sjögren’s. The study, “Stimulation of regulatory T…

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…

Most patients with Sjögren’s syndrome and other rheumatic diseases develop antiviral antibodies after their first COVID-19 vaccine shot, but their treatment affects the chances of them developing antibodies, a recent study has found. In particular, an antibody response was significantly less likely in patients receiving…