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Flagellar filament structural protein induces Sjögren's syndrome‐like sialadenitis in mice
Author(s) -
Higuchi T,
Haruta I,
Shibata N,
Yanagisawa N,
Yagi J
Publication year - 2017
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/odi.12649
Subject(s) - sialadenitis , protein filament , medicine , immunology , pathology , biology , genetics , salivary gland
Objective Sjögren's syndrome ( SS ) is a systemic autoimmune disease that primarily affects lacrimal and salivary glands. We previously reported that FliC derived from Escherichia coli could induce autoimmune pancreatitis‐like lesions. From these results, we speculated that FliC could also induce SS ‐like exocrinopathy. In this study, we investigated the effects of chronic exposure to FliC on lacrimal and salivary glands and the possibility that it might lead to an autoimmune response. Methods C57 BL /6 mice were repeatedly injected with FliC and histological changes, serum levels of cytokine/chemokines and autoantibodies were evaluated at different time points after the final injection. The presence of sialadenitis was diagnosed by histological methods. Results In FliC‐treated groups, 57% of subjects developed inflammatory cell infiltrates around ducts in mandibular salivary glands, but not lacrimal glands. In addition, serum levels of total IgG, IgG1, and IgG2a were significantly higher in FliC‐treated groups. Intriguingly, serum anti‐ SSA /Ro levels were also significantly higher in FliC‐treated groups. Cytokine analysis revealed that serum levels of IL ‐1 β , IL ‐12p70, IL ‐13, IFN ‐ γ , IL ‐15, and IL ‐23 seemed to be higher in FliC‐treated mice. Conclusions Our data suggest that FliC‐treated mice develop an SS ‐like phenotype. Our model may elucidate the relationship between commensal bacteria and SS .