Salivary Gland Hypofunction in a Mouse Model for Sjögren’s Syndrome Is Strongly Associated with Hyperglycemia

Bujana Allushi ¹, Joanna Papinska ¹, Harini Bagavant ¹ and Umesh Deshmukh¹, ¹Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK

Meeting: 2019 ACR/ARP Annual Meeting

Keywords: salivary hypofunction and diabetes, Sjogren's syndrome

Session Information

Date: Monday, November 11, 2019

Title: Sjögrenʼs Syndrome – Basic & Clinical Science Poster II

Session Type: Poster Session (Monday)

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

Background/Purpose: It has been demonstrated that the non-obese diabetes (NOD) mice from the Jackson Laboratory (JAX) have a distinct gut microbiome and higher incidence of type I diabetes than NOD mice from the Taconic Biosciences. Since the female NOD mice recapitulate several features of Sjögren’s syndrome, this study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that the incidence and severity of Sjögren’s syndrome-like disease will be distinct in NOD mice from JAX and Taconic.

Methods: Seven week old female NOD mice were purchased from JAX (n=15) and Taconic (n=15). Mice were monitored at different time points for hyperglycemia (non-fasting blood sugar >250mg/dL), pilocarpine-induced salivation, serum IgG levels, ANA, and circulating cytokines. Mice were euthanized at 22wk of age, and submandibular glands were evaluated for the presence of inflammatory foci and antibody deposition.

Results: At 20 wks of age, 80% of JAX mice were hyperglycemic, in comparison with only 46% from Taconic. The JAX mice had significantly higher total serum IgG (p=0.0007), IL-2 (p=0.0009), IL-6 (p=0.0287), TNFα (p=0.0447) and IP-10 (p=0.013) levels than the Taconic mice. The incidence of ANA was similar between the two groups. Although the severity of sialoadenitis was significantly higher in Taconic mice (p=0.0289), the loss of saliva production was more prominent in JAX mice. Surprisingly, a trend of higher saliva production was seen in mice with higher salivary gland inflammation. In both groups, the hyperglycemic mice had significantly lower (p< 0.0001) pilocarpine-induced salivation than mice with normal blood sugar levels. Furthermore, hyperglycemia was significantly associated with higher circulating IL-1β (p=0.0174), IL-16 (p=0.007) and lower IL-10 (p=0.0227) levels.

Conclusion: Our data demonstrate that in the NOD mouse model for Sjögren’s syndrome, salivary gland dysfunction is strongly associated with hyperglycemia, rather than the ANA response and the level of salivary gland inflammation. Our data suggest that metabolic syndrome should be evaluated in SS patients and efforts made to reduce hyperglycemia.

Hyperglycemia is associated with salivary gland hypofunction. Pilocarpine induced saliva was measured in female NOD mice at 20wks of age. A blood sugar of >250mg/dl was considered diabetic. Statistical analysis done by using the Mann-Whitney test and a p<0.05 considered significant.

Disclosure: B. Allushi, None; J. Papinska, None; H. Bagavant, None; U. Deshmukh, None.

To cite this abstract in AMA style:

Allushi B, Papinska J, Bagavant H, Deshmukh U. Salivary Gland Hypofunction in a Mouse Model for Sjögren’s Syndrome Is Strongly Associated with Hyperglycemia [abstract]. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2019; 71 (suppl 10). https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/salivary-gland-hypofunction-in-a-mouse-model-for-sjogrens-syndrome-is-strongly-associated-with-hyperglycemia/. Accessed .

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