AUTHOR=Yin Junping , Zheng Junfeng , Deng Fengyuan , Zhao Wenjie , Chen Yan , Huang Qiaoniang , Huang Renliang , Wen Lifang , Yue Xiaoyang , Petersen Frank , Yu Xinhua TITLE=Gene Expression Profiling of Lacrimal Glands Identifies the Ectopic Expression of MHC II on Glandular Cells as a Presymptomatic Feature in a Mouse Model of Primary Sjögren's Syndrome JOURNAL=Frontiers in Immunology VOLUME=9 YEAR=2018 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2018.02362 DOI=10.3389/fimmu.2018.02362 ISSN=1664-3224 ABSTRACT=

Ectopic expression of MHC II molecules on glandular cells is a feature of primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS). However, the cause of this ectopic expression and its potential role in the pathogenesis of the disease remains elusive. Here, we report that ectopic expression of MHC II molecules on glandular cells represents an early presymptomatic event in a mouse model of pSS induced by immunization of Ro60_316-335 peptide emulsified in TiterMax® as an adjuvant. Ectopic expression of MHC II was induced by TiterMax® but not by complete freund's adjuvant (CFA). Furthermore, immunization with Ro60_316-335 peptide emulsified in TiterMax®, but not in CFA, induced a pSS-like disease in mice. Our results suggests that ectopic expression of MHC II molecules on glandular cells represents a presymptomatic feature of pSS and that such ectopic expression can be induced by exogenous factors. In addition, this study also provides a novel mechanism how adjuvants can amplify immune responses.