Xerostomia Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Xerostomia, including details on dry mouth, treatment, causes, lack of saliva.

Reversal of Sjogren's-like syndrome in non-obese diabetic mice.

Tran SD, Kodama S, Lodde BM, Szalayova I, Key S, Khalili S, Faustman DL, Mezey E

McGill University, 3640 University Street, M/43, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3A 2B2. simon.tran@mcgill.ca

BACKGROUND: Non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice exhibit autoimmune diabetes and Sjögren's-like syndrome. OBJECTIVE: To test whether a treatment that reverses end-stage diabetes in the NOD mouse would affect their Sjögren's-like syndrome. METHODS: NOD mice have a proteasome defect. Improperly selected naive T cells escape, but can be killed by reintroducing major histocompatibility complex class I self-peptides on matched normal splenocytes. The proteasome defect also impairs nuclear factor kB, a transcription factor in pathogenic memory T cells, increasing their susceptibility to tumour necrosis factor-induced apoptosis stimulated through complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA). The impact of this two-limb therapy (injections of matched normal splenocytes and CFA) on the autoimmune salivary gland disease of the NOD mice was studied. RESULTS: All NOD mice receiving the above treatment had a complete recovery of salivary flow and were protected from diabetes. Restoration of salivary flow could be the result of a combination of rescue and regeneration of the gland, as confirmed by immunohistochemical analysis. All untreated NOD mice showed a continuous decline in salivary flow, followed by hyperglycaemia and death. CONCLUSION: This study establishes that a brief intervention in NOD mice with Sjögren's-like syndrome can reverse salivary gland dysfunction.

Published 21 May 2007 in Ann Rheum Dis, 66(6): 812-4.
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