Serum, but Not Saliva, CXCL13 Levels Associate With Infiltrating CXCL13+ Cells in the Minor Salivary Gland Lesions and Other Histologic Parameters in Patients With Sjögren’s Syndrome

• DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.705079
• Publication Date: 2021-08-17T10:44:13Z
• Authors: Loukas Chatzis; Andreas V. Goules; Ioanna E. Stergiou; Michael Voulgarelis; Athanasios G. Tzi...; Efstathia K. Kaps...
• Keywords: CXCL13; Rheumatoid factor

Recent studies suggest that elevated CXCL13 serum levels in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) associate minor salivary gland (MSG) histologic features, disease severity, as well high-risk status for non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) development and NHL itself. In contrast, limited discriminative value of saliva has been reported. Prompt by these reports, we sought to validate the clinical utility investigating potential correlations MSG histopathologic [including CXCL13+-cell number, severity infiltrates germinal center (GC) formation], serologic parameters, NHL. were evaluated paired specimens 45 pSS (15 NHL; pSS-associated NHL: SSL), 11 sicca-controls (sicca-complaining individuals negative biopsy autoantibody profile), 10 healthy (healthy-controls) 6 non-SS-NHLs. CXCL13+-cells measured MSG-tissues 22 studied (including 7 SSLs) all sicca-controls. significantly increased SSL compared sicca- healthy-controls positively correlated number focus-score. Serum was higher GCs, rheumatoid factor, hypocomplementemia, high activity, development. (compared non-SS-NHLs), GCs patients. Univariate analysis revealed serum, but not saliva, associated lymphoma, an association did survive multivariate analysis. Conclusively, our findings confirm are histologic, features indicative more severe pSS.