Sjögren's disease & overlap diseases
Deciphering the role of conventional dendritic cells (cDC2s) in Sjögren's syndrome: transcriptomic profile links altered antigen processes with interferon (IFN) signature and autoimmunity
Authors' conclusion
pSS cDC2s are transcriptionally altered, and the aberrant antigen uptake and processing, including (auto-)antigens, together with increased proliferation of tissue-homing CD4+ T cells, suggest altered antigen presentation by pSS cDC2s. These functional alterations were strongly linked to anti-SSA positivity and the presence of type I IFNs.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with pSS, patients with non-Sjögren's sicca and healthy controls (HCs); circulating cDC2s
- Comparison
- Circulating cDC2s from patients with pSS vs non-Sjögren's sicca vs healthy controls
Methodological detailsRNA sequencing, phenotypical and functional validation in independent cohorts
- RNA sequencing
- Phenotypical and functional validation in independent cohorts
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- pSS cDC2 transcriptome: alterations in type I IFN, toll-like receptor (TLR), antigen processing and presentation pathways
- Increased CX3CR1 expression and decreased integrin beta-2 and plexin-B2 on pSS cDC2s
- Impaired antigen degradation and increased antigen uptake (incl. self-antigens from salivary gland epithelial cells) by pSS cDC2s
- Changes in antigen uptake and degradation linked to anti-SSA/Ro autoantibodies and presence of type I IFNs
- In vitro IFN-α priming enhanced antigen uptake by HC cDC2s, reflecting the pSS cDC2 profile
- pSS vs HC cDC2s increased proliferation and CXCR3 and CXCR5 expression on proliferating CD4+ T cells
Original publication
Deciphering the role of cDC2s in Sjögren's syndrome: transcriptomic profile links altered antigen processes with IFN signature and autoimmunity. Ann Rheum Dis. Published 28 September 2022. doi:10.
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