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HYPOTHESIS: Sjögren's syndrome: a possible pathogenetic mechanism involving somatostatin
Author(s) -
Baccaglini L,
Pillemer SR,
Baum BJ
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
oral diseases
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.953
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1601-0825
pISSN - 1354-523X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1601-0825.2000.tb00136.x
Subject(s) - somatostatin , pathogenesis , medicine , sjögren syndrome , endocrinology , disease , mechanism (biology) , autoimmune disease , immunology , philosophy , epistemology
Sjögren's syndrome is a chronic systemic disease that primarily affects the salivary and lacrimal glands. The pathogenesis of Sjögren's syndrome is unknown. We hypothesize that reduced somatostatin activity is an important factor in promoting immune dysregulation in patients affected by Sjögren's syndrome. Somatostatin is a multifunctional peptide with potent immunomodulatory properties. Its effects include reduced lymphocytic activity, reduced gastric and intestinal secretions, activation of the hypothalamic‐pituitary axis, and anti‐inflammatory action, all opposite to the general presentation in Sjögren's syndrome. We suggest that the activity of somatostatin is low in patients affected by this disease, and this contributes significantly to the pathology observed.