Sjögren's disease & overlap diseases
GZMK+CD8+ T cells target a specific acinar cell type in Sjögren's disease
Authors' conclusion
Using single-cell and spatial transcriptomics and proteomics, this study identifies a selective loss of PRR4⁺CST3⁺WFDC2⁻ seromucous acinar cells and a rise in GZMK⁺CD8⁺ T cells in Sjögren's disease, revealing distinct immune-mediated epithelial remodeling and interferon-driven dysfunction across diverse clinical presentations.
Study context
- Population
- Human minor salivary glands from sjögren's disease (SjD) patients and non-SjD individuals
- Comparison
- SjD vs non-SjD minor salivary glands
Methodological detailssingle-cell and spatial transcriptomics, spatial immunophenotyping, autologous T cell–epithelial cell co-cultures
- Single-cell and spatial transcriptomics
- Spatial immunophenotyping
- Autologous T cell–epithelial cell co-cultures
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- PRR4⁺CST3⁺WFDC2⁻ seromucous acinar population selectively lost in SjD
- T cells in glands of SSA⁺, high-focus score patients: increased signatures of activation, antigen presentation and apoptosis resistance vs mild or moderate disease
- Patients with low immune infiltration exhibited distinct epithelial organization
- GZMK⁺CD8⁺ T cells accumulate with disease severity, show cytotoxic transcriptional program, degranulate upon ex vivo stimulation, and localize with immune-engaged epithelial cells
- GZMK activates interferon signaling in vitro, validated in autologous co-cultures of patient-derived T cells and epithelial cells
Original publication
GZMK+CD8+ T cells target a specific acinar cell type in Sjögren's disease. Ann Rheum Dis. Published 28 October 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →