Experimental models of Sjögren's syndrome: differences and similarities with human disease

Abstract

Mouse models have been employedextensively to provide pathogenetic insights into many complex human disorders including systemic autoimmune diseases. The explosion of biotechnology and molecular biology have simplified the procedures to design and generate mouse models with the phenotype of interest. In this line, more than 30 mouse models have been proposed or developed to resemble Sjögren's syndrome (SS) in humans, in an attempt to better understand the pathophysiology of the disease and design more effective treatments. So far, none of these models has been proven an ideal recapitulation of the human disease, although each model mimics particular aspects of the human SS counterpart. This review summarises the main characteristics of the mouse models of SS that have been developed hitherto, comparing them with the human SS in terms of clinical features, sex predilection, histopathology, autoantibodies production, and propensity for lymphoma. The interpretation of these experimental models with cautiousness and the realisation of the differences between human and mouse physiology and disease pathophysiology, may render mice a useful tool to study in depth SS and reveal new therapeutic perspectives.

Age-associated B cell infiltration in salivary glands represents a hallmark of Sjögren’s-like disease in aging mice

“…The number of mouse models that recapitulate some features of SjD is abundant in the literature [42]. However, a lack of consideration of age as a confounding factor is a significant caveat in most models.…”

Visual analysis of autoimmune dry eye studies based on bibliometrics

“…It is of great value to promote the study of pathogenesis of autoimmune-related dry eye. [8] Cluster 2, comprising 74 subject words, is mainly concerned with clinical trials and diseases associated with autoimmune dry eye, such as diagnosis, symptoms, Schirmer test, dry eye patients, arthritis, primary SS, and participant. Studies have explored risk factors associated with autoimmune dry eye.…”

Current experimental methods to investigate the impact of specialized pro-resolving lipid mediators on Sjögren’s syndrome

“…However, when these mechanisms are absent, dead cells cannot be removed from the injury/infection site leading to production of autoantigens, elevations in chemokine and cytokine levels ( 34 ) that stimulate peripheral lymphocytes to bind to and infiltrate across the vascular endothelium into the SG ( 35 – 37 ), which leads to chronic immune responses, SG damage and dysfunction ( 38 – 41 ). To fully investigate the cell-specific mechanisms involved in the initiation of the inflammatory response, proven mouse models having SS-like features are required ( 42 – 45 ) to allow for identification of novel targets and approaches for inhibiting a futile systemic immune response and averting chronic inflammation ( 46 – 49 ).…”