Impact of Gender on Exocrine Gland Inflammation in Mouse Models of Sjögren's Syndrome

Spontaneous Autoimmune Dacryoadenitis in Aged CD25KO Mice

“…Thus, their destruction contributes to the dysfunctional tear film that develops in lacrimal keratoconjunctivitis. These results are in agreement with multiple human 8 -10 and animal 35,37 studies of SS and SS-like disease, which demonstrated increased levels of apoptosis-related proteins in the exocrine tissue. Also worth mention is the overall lack of lymphocytes undergoing apoptosis noted in the present study.…”

“…7 Previous studies have examined whether gender-related pathological differences also exist in the exocrine tissues of mouse models of this disorder. 37,38 MRL/lpr and NZB/NZW murine models develop more severe lacrimal gland inflammation in females relative to males, while male NOD mice develop worse LG inflammation than females. 37 However, aged female NOD.H2 h4 mice develop more severe sialoadenitis when compared with age-matched male NOD.H2 h4 mice, as assessed by histology of the salivary glands and flow cytometry of the infiltrate.…”

“…37,38 MRL/lpr and NZB/NZW murine models develop more severe lacrimal gland inflammation in females relative to males, while male NOD mice develop worse LG inflammation than females. 37 However, aged female NOD.H2 h4 mice develop more severe sialoadenitis when compared with age-matched male NOD.H2 h4 mice, as assessed by histology of the salivary glands and flow cytometry of the infiltrate. 38 In addition, female NOD.H2 hr mice have a significantly greater proportion of CD4 ϩ T cells in the infiltrate than males, with no difference in the percentage of CD8ϩ T Cells.…”

Desiccating environmental stress exacerbates autoimmune lacrimal keratoconjunctivitis in non-obese diabetic mice

“…Age and sex differences in the exocrine gland inflammation have been observed in the NOD mouse [14,15,27,28]. The severity of sialoadenitis is worse in females, whereas inflammation in the lacrimal glands is far worse in males [27].…”

“…The severity of sialoadenitis is worse in females, whereas inflammation in the lacrimal glands is far worse in males [27]. Changes in the exocytotic pathway and abnormalities in acinar cells, such as mitochondrial deterioration, cytoplasmic vacuoles and lipid accumulation occur at 1 month of age in the lacrimal glands of males [14,15].…”