METHODS: Peripheral venous blood samples were collected from 30 patients with pSS and 30 healthy controls. Minor salivary gland samples were abtainted from 10 of these patients and 10 non-pSS controls whose minor salivary gland didn\'t fulfill the classification criteria for pSS. Enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay was used to examine the serum concentration of M1/M2 macrophage related cytokines (TNF-a, IL-6, IL-23, IL-4, IL-10 and TGF-β). Flow cytometry was used to examine the numbers of CD86+ M1 macrophages and CD206+ M2 macrophages in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Immunofluorescence was used to test the infiltration of macrophages in minor salivary glands.
RESULTS: This study observed a significant increase in pSS patients both in the numbers of M1 macrophages in peripheral blood and serum levels of M1-related pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-23 and TNF-α). Conversely, M2 macrophages were downregulated in the peripheral blood of pSS patients. Similarly, in the minor salivary glands of pSS patients, the expression of M1 macrophages was increased, and that of M2 macrophages was decreased. Furthermore, a significantly positive correlation was found between the proportions of M1 macrophages in PBMCs and serum levels of IgG and RF.
CONCLUSIONS: This study reveals the presence of an significant imbalance in M1/M2 macrophages in pSS patients. The M1 polarization of macrophages may play an central role in the pathogenesis of pSS.
方法:收集30例pSS患者和30例健康对照者的外周静脉血。从这些患者中的10名和10名非pSS对照中提取了小唾液腺样本,这些患者的小唾液腺不符合pSS的分类标准。采用酶联免疫吸附试验检测血清M1/M2巨噬细胞相关细胞因子(TNF-α,IL-6、IL-23、IL-4、IL-10和TGF-β)。流式细胞术用于检测外周血单核细胞(PBMC)中CD86M1巨噬细胞和CD206M2巨噬细胞的数量。免疫荧光用于测试小唾液腺中巨噬细胞的浸润。
结果:本研究观察到pSS患者外周血中M1巨噬细胞的数量和M1相关的促炎细胞因子(IL-6,IL-23和TNF-α)的血清水平均显着增加。相反,pSS患者外周血中M2巨噬细胞表达下调。同样,在pSS患者的小唾液腺中,M1巨噬细胞的表达增加,M2巨噬细胞的减少。此外,PBMC中M1巨噬细胞的比例与血清IgG和RF水平之间存在显着正相关。
结论:本研究揭示了在pSS患者中M1/M2巨噬细胞存在显著失衡。巨噬细胞的M1极化可能在pSS的发病机理中起重要作用。