Background/Purpose: IL-21 is a pro-inflammatory cytokine that plays a key role in the activation and differentiation of B cells. B cells infiltrate the salivary glands (SG) of Sjögren’s syndrome (SS), an autoimmune disease characterized by immune infiltration in the lacrimal and salivary glands leading to exocrine dysfunction. In SS SG, B cells are often organized as functional ectopic germinal centers (GC) and are pivotal in SS pathogenesis. Follicular helper T cells (Tfh) abundantly express IL-21 and contribute to GC B cell affinity maturation via induction of AID, somatic hypermutation and class switching. Here we aimed to investigate IL-21 expression in SS SG and its correlation with key regulators of GC responses and markers of B cell differentiation. Finally, we aimed to assess the relationship between IL-21, infiltrating Tfh cells and the development of functional ectopic GC.

Methods: IL-21 and IL-21R mRNA expression was assessed by Taqman PCR in 28 labial SG of patients with SS and 37 with non-specific chronic sialadenitis (NSCS). Expression levels were correlated with genes regulating ectopic GC formation such as CXCL13 and Ltb and B cell function such as BAFF, AID, Pax5 and Blimp1. In addition, GC formation in the SG was assessed by IHC for B/T cell segregation and follicular dendritic cell (FDC) networks. Finally, Tfh cells infiltration in the SG was assessed by IF for CD3/CD45RO/ICOS and PD1.

Results: SG of SS patients displayed higher expression of IL-21 and IL-21R mRNA compared to NSCS (mean fold increase±SEM 38±12 vs 5±4, p=0.02 for IL-21 and 59±13 vs 12±2, p=0.01). In SS, IL-21 mRNA strictly correlated with the levels of CXCL13 (Spearman’s r=0.697, p<0.0001) and Ltb (r=0.478, p<0.001) which were closely associated with the formation of CD21L+ ectopic GC. Furthermore, IL-21 expression was associated with functional B cell activation as shown by its correlation with AID (r=0.540, p<0.0001) and Pax5 (r=0.456, p<0.002). Finally, a subset of CD45RO/ICOS/PD1+ T cells highly resembling Tfh were observed in the presence of ectopic GC characterised by FDC networks but not in FDC- or NSCS SG.

Conclusion: Here we show that IL-21 expression is significantly increased in the SG of SS patients and strongly correlates with ectopic GC formation, functional B cell activation and accumulation of Tfh. These data strongly implicate IL-21 and Tfh cells in the development and maintenance of functional ectopic GC in the SG and could represent novel therapeutic targets in SS.

---

« Back to 2013 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting

ACR Meeting Abstracts - https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/lesional-intereukin-21-expression-correlates-with-functional-germinal-center-formation-and-t-follicular-helper-cell-infiltration-in-the-salivary-glands-of-sjogrens-syndrome/