Expression of Interferons Lambda in Salivary Glands of Patients with Sjögren's Syndrome

Eirini Apostolou¹, Efstathia K. Kapsogeorgou¹, Orsia D. Konsta¹, Maria Ioanna Saridaki², Evangelos Andreakos² and Athanasios G. Tzioufas¹, ¹Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece, ²Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece

Meeting: 2015 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting

Date of first publication: September 29, 2015

Keywords: interferons and salivary gland, Pathophysiology, Sjogren's syndrome

Session Information

Date: Tuesday, November 10, 2015

Title: Sjögren's Syndrome: Translational Insights into Sjögren's Syndrome

Session Type: ACR Poster Session C

Session Time: 9:00AM-11:00AM

Background/Purpose: Type I and II interferons (IFNs) have been implicated in the pathophysiology of Sjögren’s Syndrome (SS). Recently a new family of IFNs, namely type III IFNs or Interferons lambda (IFNλs), has been identified, containing three distinct members; IFNλ1/IL29, IFNλ2/IL28A and IFNλ3/IL28B. IFNλs share IFNλR1/IL10R as a common signaling receptor. Despite the fact that their function and regulation has not been completely understood, they exhibit significant antiviral activity. Initial studies implicate IFNλs in several human disorders, including cancer and autoimmune diseases. In this study we sought to investigate the pattern of their expression in SS patients.

Methods: The expression of all IFNλs and their common IFNλR1 receptor was investigated in salivary gland (SG) biopsies from 45 patients with primary SS (according to the American–European Consensus Group criteria) that had variable degree of infiltration (mild, intermediate or severe) and 17 non-SS sicca complaining controls. mRNA and secreted IFNλ levels were measured from salivary gland epithelial cells (SGECs), both resting or following polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (polyI:C) treatment, in representative samples from the aforementioned groups.

Results: Expression of all IFNλs and their common IFNλR1 receptor was detected in SGs of both SS patients and controls. IFNλ1 (IL29) was detected in ductal epithelia, displaying higher intensity in SGs from SS patients and particularly those with intermediate lesions. IFNλ2 (IL28A) and IFNλ3 (IL28B) were expressed in both ductal and acinar epithelia, as well as in infiltrating Mononuclear Cells (MNCs). Interestingly, regarding IFNλ2, higher expression was observed in the epithelia of SS patients compared to controls. The common receptor IFNλR1 is expressed in all types of cells except fibroblasts, and in higher levels in SGs from SS patients. Importantly, high expression of IFNλR1 was additionally identified to infiltrating plasmatocytoid Dendritic Cells (pDCs). Moreover, TLR3 stimulation by polyI:C treatment, produced high levels of IFNλ1/IL29, IFNλ2/IL28A and IFNλ3/IL28B in all SGECs.

Conclusion: Our findings implicate IFNλs in SS pathophysiology. Identification of all IFNλs and their common signaling receptor locally in SG suggests a potential role for IFNλs in autoimmune responses that govern SS. Further studies are needed to elucidate the role of IFNλs in SG physiology and SS.

Disclosure: E. Apostolou, None; E. K. Kapsogeorgou, None; O. D. Konsta, None; M. I. Saridaki, None; E. Andreakos, None; A. G. Tzioufas, None.

To cite this abstract in AMA style:

Apostolou E, Kapsogeorgou EK, Konsta OD, Saridaki MI, Andreakos E, Tzioufas AG. Expression of Interferons Lambda in Salivary Glands of Patients with Sjögren’s Syndrome [abstract]. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2015; 67 (suppl 10). https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/expression-of-interferons-lambda-in-salivary-glands-of-patients-with-sjogrens-syndrome/. Accessed .

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