Function of Inducible Transcriptional Regulators in Regulation of Inflammatory Reactions in Homeostasis and Its Dysregulation.

IκB-κ B基因缺陷小鼠自发地在眼睛周围产生慢性炎症。在这项研究中，我们分析了突变小鼠的慢性炎症。我们发现，炎症是由一种类似于人类干燥综合征的自身免疫性疾病引起的，虽然淋巴细胞是炎症发展所必需的，但上皮细胞中的IκB-β-缺陷是疾病的主要原因，而不是淋巴细胞的异常，并且在IκB-β-缺陷的泪腺中诱导了增强的凋亡，这导致了自身反应性淋巴细胞的激活。这些结果将有助于了解干燥综合征的发病机制和治疗方法的发展。

IκB-ζ gene-deficient mice spontaneously develop chronic inflammation around eyes. In this study, we analyzed the chronic inflammation of the mutant mice. We revealed that the inflammation was caused by an autoimmune disease resembling human Sjogren's syndrome, that although lymphocytes were required for the development of the inflammation, IκB-ζ-deficiency in epithelial cells, but not abnormality of the lymphocytes was the main causes of the disease, and that enhanced apoptosis was induced in IκB-ζ-deficient lacrimal glands, which resulted in activation of autoreactive lymphocytes. These results will greatly contribute to the understanding of pathogenic mechanism and development of therapy for Sjogren's syndrome.