本研究旨在探讨C-X-C基序趋化因子配体9(CXCL9)的血清和表达水平。原发性干燥综合征(pSS)患者的小唾液腺(MSG)中的CXCL10,CXCL11和CXC受体3(CXCR3),并探讨其与临床参数的相关性。来自49例诊断为pSS的患者的血清样本,33例类风湿关节炎(RA),收集30名健康对照(HC)进行CXCL9,CXCL10,CXCL11和CXCR3的测定.此外,在41例接受MSG活检的患者中测量了MSG组织中的CXCL水平。分析血清/MSG组织中CXCL和CXCL/CXCR水平与临床因素/唾液闪烁显像参数之间的相关性。血清CXCL11和CXCR3在pSS,RA和HCs患者之间显示出统计学上的显着差异(血清CXCL11,pSS:RA:HC=235.6±500.1pg/mL:90.0±200.3pg/mL:45.9±53.6pg/mL;p=0.041,血清CXCR3,pSS:RA:HC=3.27±1.32ng/mL:3.29±1.17ng/mL;血清CXCL10在pSS(64.5±54.2pg/mL)和HCs(18.6±18.1pg/mL,p<0.001),而血清CXCL9在各组之间没有显着差异。临床相关因素分析显示,血清CXCL10、CXCL11水平与血沉呈正相关(r=0.524,p<0.001,r=0.707,p<0.001),总蛋白(分别为r=0.375,p=0.008和r=0.535,p<0.001),球蛋白(分别为r=0.539,p<0.001和r=0.639,p<0.001),和欧洲风湿病协会联盟SS疾病活动指数(r=0.305,p=0.033和r=0.321,p=0.025)。此外,血清CXCL10与Schirmer检验评分呈负相关(r=-0.354,p=0.05),血清CXCL11与活检病灶评分呈正相关(r=0.612,p=0.02)。在味精组织中,浸润的CXCL9阳性细胞的百分比最高(75.5%),其次是CXCL10(29.1%)和CXCL11(27.9%)。在相关性分析中,表达CXCL11的细胞与唾液腺闪烁显像的平均洗脱百分比成反比(r=-0.448,p=0.007)。我们的研究强调了pSS中不同的血清和组织趋化因子模式,强调CXCL9的早期诊断潜力。这表明CXCL10和CXCL11是疾病进展的指标,有必要进一步研究它们在pSS以外的自身免疫性疾病中的作用。
This study aimed to investigate the serum and expression levels of C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 9 (CXCL9), CXCL10, CXCL11, and CXC receptor 3 (CXCR3) in minor salivary glands (MSGs) of patients with primary Sjögren\'s syndrome (pSS), and to explore their correlations with clinical parameters. Serum samples from 49 patients diagnosed with pSS, 33 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and 30 healthy controls (HCs) were collected for measurements of CXCL9, CXCL10, CXCL11, and CXCR3. Additionally, CXCL levels in the MSG tissues were measured in 41 patients who underwent MSG biopsy. Correlations between CXCL and CXCL/CXCR levels in serum/MSG tissues and clinical factors/salivary scintigraphy parameters were analyzed. Serum CXCL11 and CXCR3 showed statistically significant differences among patients with pSS and RA and HCs (serum CXCL11, pSS:RA:HC = 235.6 ± 500.1 pg/mL:90.0 ± 200.3 pg/mL:45.9 ± 53.6 pg/mL; p = 0.041, serum CXCR3, pSS:RA:HC = 3.27 ± 1.32 ng/mL:3.29 ± 1.17 ng/mL:2.00 ± 1.12 ng/mL; p < 0.001). Serum CXCL10 showed a statistically significant difference between pSS (64.5 ± 54.2 pg/mL) and HCs (18.6 ± 18.1 pg/mL, p < 0.001), while serum CXCL9 did not exhibit a significant difference among the groups. Correlation analysis of clinical factors revealed that serum CXCL10 and CXCL11 levels positively correlated with erythrocyte sedimentation rate (r = 0.524, p < 0.001 and r = 0.707, p < 0.001, respectively), total protein (r = 0.375, p = 0.008 and r = 0.535, p < 0.001, respectively), globulin (r = 0.539, p < 0.001 and r = 0.639, p < 0.001, respectively), and European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology SS Disease Activity Index (r = 0.305, p = 0.033 and r = 0.321, p = 0.025). Additionally, serum CXCL10 negatively correlated with the Schirmer test score (r = - 0.354, p = 0.05), while serum CXCL11 positively correlated with the biopsy focus score (r = 0.612, p = 0.02). In the MSG tissue, the percentage of infiltrating CXCL9-positive cells was highest (75.5%), followed by CXCL10 (29.1%) and CXCL11 (27.9%). In the correlation analysis, CXCL11-expressing cells were inversely related to the mean washout percentage on salivary gland scintigraphy (r = - 0.448, p = 0.007). Our study highlights distinct serum and tissue chemokine patterns in pSS, emphasizing CXCL9\'s potential for early diagnosis. This suggests that CXCL10 and CXCL11 are indicators of disease progression, warranting further investigation into their roles in autoimmune disorders beyond pSS.