News

A type of immunosuppressive cells called myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), high levels of which were found in patients with Sjögren’s syndrome, seem to worsen the symptoms and prognosis of the disease, a study reports. While the results seem counterintuitive, researchers found that MDSCs act on other regulatory immune cells, reducing their number…

Levels of migration inhibitory factor (MIF), a pro-inflammatory immune molecule, are significantly higher in the serum of patients with primary Sjogren’s syndrome, suggesting it could play a part in diagnosing the disease. MIF levels, however, do not correlate with any clinical characteristics and additional studies are needed to understand…

The hormone adiponectin correlates with disease severity in Sjogren’s syndrome patients, and could be used as a salivary biomarker to diagnose the disease, a Spanish pilot study shows. The research, “Salivary adiponectin, but not adenosine deaminase, correlates with clinical signs in women with Sjögren’s syndrome: a pilot study,” was…

Among Manhattan residents, women are more affected by Sjögren’s syndrome than men, with the most new cases reported in Asian women, a study shows. The study, “The Incidence and Prevalence of Adult Primary Sjögren’s Syndrome in New York County,” was published in the journal Arthritis Care & Research. Sjögren’s…

Researchers have identified genital ulcers as an initial symptom of primary Sjögren’s syndrome for the first time in a recent case report. The report, “Lipschütz Genital Ulceration as Initial Manifestation of Primary Sjögren’s Syndrome,” appeared in Case Reports in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Women affected by…

The disruption of the junctions that keep blood vessel cells tightly attached may contribute to the lack of saliva and the high infiltration of immune cells in the salivary glands in Sjogren’s syndrome, a mouse study suggests. The study, “Disruption of endothelial barrier function is linked with hyposecretion and lymphocytic infiltration in…

A subtype of rheumatoid factor targeting a class of antibody called immunoglobulin A can be used as a diagnostic and predictive marker for primary Sjogren’s syndrome, a new study shows. The study, “Clinical and diagnostic significance of serum immunoglobulin A rheumatoid factor in primary Sjogren’s syndrome,” was published in…

Women with primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS) do not need to follow specific dietary guidelines to  maintain good nutrition and oral health, a Norwegian study suggests. Furthermore, the patients adequately follow the recommended dietary intakes, which do not seem to influence salivary secretion, the…

Lower levels of Gαq — a protein that regulates many aspects of immune responses — appear to drive the progression of primary Sjogren’s syndrome by increasing a subset of pro-inflammatory immune cells, a study shows.  The study, “Expression of Gαq Is Decreased in Lymphocytes from Primary Sjogren’s Syndrome…

Patients with primary Sjögren’s syndrome whose first symptoms are not mouth and eye dryness may experience more progressive and severe pulmonary manifestations during the course of their disease, a study reports. The study, “Interstitial lung disease in non-sicca onset primary Sjögren’s syndrome: a large-scale case-control study,” appeared…