Rheumatoid Arthritis Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Rheumatoid Arthritis, including details on treatment, symptoms, causes, medication.

Role of dendritic cells in Sjögren's syndrome.

Vogelsang P, Jonsson MV, Dalvin ST, Appel S

Broegelmann Research Laboratory, The Gade Institute, University of Bergen, N-5021 Bergen, Norway.

Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is a chronic inflammatory and lymphoproliferative autoimmune disease of unknown aetiology. It is characterised by progressive mononuclear cell infiltration of the salivary and lacrimal glands and a decreased glandular secretion, resulting in dryness of the mouth and eyes (xerostomia and keratoconjunctivitis sicca, respectively). Dendritic cells (DC) are considered to be the most potent antigen-presenting cells. Because of their central role in initiating an immune response while maintaining tolerance, impaired function of these cells might lead to the break of peripheral tolerance and initiation of immune responses to self-antigens. This review will focus on the possible role of DC in SS.

Published 21 August 2006 in Scand J Immunol, 64(3): 219-26.
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