A study conducted by researchers at the Institut de Recerca Sant Pau (IR Sant Pau) has revealed that a greater quantity of T cells in lymphocytic foci is associated with an increased risk of severe flares in Sjögren’s syndrome. The work has been published in the journal Frontiers in Immunology.
Sjögren’s syndrome is a rare autoimmune disease that primarily affects the salivary and lacrimal glands. This study analyzes data from 78 patients over a 3-year follow-up period. Specifically, the composition of lymphocytic foci in minor salivary gland biopsies and its relationship with severe flares of the disease and its severity were studied.
The results indicated that a greater quantity of T cells in the lymphocytic foci was associated with an increased risk of severe flares of the disease. Additionally, it was observed that improvements in the Sjögren’s syndrome disease activity index were related to a higher count of total lymphocytes and T and B cells in the lymphoid composition of the foci. These findings underscore the importance of the composition of lymphocytic foci in minor salivary gland biopsies as a prognostic indicator for severe flares of the disease in patients with Sjögren’s syndrome.
Dr. Laura Martínez, from the Inflammatory Diseases group, and Dr. Hye Sang Park, from the Multi-organ Damage and Rheumatology group at IR Sant Pau, explain that although Sjögren’s syndrome primarily affects the salivary and lacrimal glands, “it can also have serious implications in other organs, such as the nervous system.”
This study not only aims to improve the diagnosis of the disease, but “also helps identify prognostic indicators that allow us to predict severe flares in patients.”
Although the technique is relatively non-invasive, it offers a large amount of information that could be crucial for the clinical management of patients with Sjögren’s syndrome, many of whom may be underdiagnosed.
“In short, our research not only contributes to better diagnosis but also opens the door to new therapeutic strategies and a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms of the disease.”
Park H-S, Martínez-Martínez L, Magallares López B, Castellví I, Moya P, Codes-Mendez H, Hernandez Sosa N, Diaz-Torne C, Laiz A, Sainz L, Tandaipan JL, Mariscal A, Franco-Leyva T, Casademont J, Juarez C and Corominas H (2024) Prognostic significance of lymphocytic foci composition in minor salivary gland biopsies for severe disease flare and severity in Sjögren’s syndrome: a 3-year follow-up cohort study. Front. Immunol. 15:1332924. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1332924
