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Experience with experimental biological treatment and local gene therapy in Sjogren's syndrome: implications for exocrine pathogenesis and treatment.

Lodde BM, Baum BJ, Tak PP, Illei G

Gene Therapy and Therapeutics Branch/NIDCR, National Institutes of Health, 10 Center Drive, Building 10, Room 1N114, Bethesda, MD 20892-1190, USA.

Sjögren's syndrome is an autoimmune exocrinopathy, mainly affecting the lacrimal and salivary glands, and resulting in ocular and oral dryness (keratoconjunctivitis sicca and xerostomia). The aetiology and pathogenesis are largely unknown, and only palliative treatment is currently available. Data obtained from experimental animal and human studies using biological agents or gene therapeutics can offer insight into the disease process of Sjögren's syndrome. This article reviews the current literature on these approaches and assesses the lessons learnt about the pathogenesis of Sjögren's syndrome.

Published 13 October 2006 in Ann Rheum Dis, 65(11): 1406-13.
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