Abstract
Sex differences in a NOD.H2(h4) murine model of Sjögren's syndrome were analyzed. Compared to males, female NOD.H2(h4) mice have increased severity of sialoadenitis and have a significantly increased percentage of CD4(+) T cells in salivary gland infiltrates. CD4(+) T cells in female infiltrates produce more Th2 and Th17 cytokines than in males, while males have greater Th1 responses. Females also have enhanced B cell responses, with higher levels of SSA and SSB serum antibodies, and B cell activation factor F (BAFF). Thus, sex has a strong impact on the severity of murine Sjögren's syndrome by affecting the immune mechanisms driving the autoimmune inflammation.
MeSH terms
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Animals
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CD11b Antigen / metabolism
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CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
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CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / pathology
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Cytokines / metabolism*
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Disease Models, Animal
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Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
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Female
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Interleukin-10 / metabolism
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Interleukin-17 / metabolism
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Interleukin-2 / metabolism
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Interleukin-4 / metabolism
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Interleukin-9 / metabolism
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Leukocyte Common Antigens / metabolism
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Macrophages / metabolism
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Macrophages / pathology
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Male
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Mice
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Mice, Congenic
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Mice, Inbred NOD
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Salivary Glands / metabolism
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Salivary Glands / pathology
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Sex Factors
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Sialadenitis / metabolism
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Sialadenitis / pathology
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Sjogren's Syndrome / metabolism*
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Sjogren's Syndrome / pathology*
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Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / metabolism
Substances
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CD11b Antigen
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Cytokines
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Interleukin-17
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Interleukin-2
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Interleukin-9
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Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
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Interleukin-10
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Interleukin-4
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Leukocyte Common Antigens