ORAL HEALTH AND IMMUNE STATUS IN SJOGRENS SYNDROME

干燥综合征是一种自身免疫性系统性疾病，其特征是 破坏性淋巴细胞继发的口干和干眼症 唾液和泪腺的浸润性病变。临床图景显示 局限性腺体分泌功能不全的频谱 全身性淋巴增生性疾病有时会终止为 淋巴瘤。患者最初就诊于牙医或耳鼻咽喉科医生 因龋齿猖獗，严重口干或腮腺干燥 肿胀。圣安东尼奥的UTHSC建议对口语进行详细研究 SS和IS患者的健康和免疫状况 公认的自身免疫性疾病方面的国际权威。他有 组建了一个牙科和医学科学家团队，利用最新的 分子医学和免疫病理学技术，组织成 三个项目和两个核心。 项目I(SS口干症的细菌学和免疫学研究) 着重阐述唾液腺病理与病理的关系，减少 唾液流动、龋齿形成、牙周炎和粘膜病变。一个 唾液细菌区系、细胞因子和免疫球蛋白的详细研究 将会被执行。 项目II，(SS唾液腺中炎性细胞因子的调节) 利用聚合酶链式反应研究促炎症和抗炎基因 细胞因子与SS病变严重程度的关系 活检和病灶评分。初步结果表明，TGFbeta可能是 一种重要的天然免疫抑制因子，阻止其发展 党卫军。 项目III，(通过饮食抑制转基因小鼠的SS)雇用了 一种新的SS转基因小鼠模型评价低热量对SS的影响 限制唾液腺损伤和寿命。这件事的PI 加布里埃尔·费尔南德斯博士也是该项目的联合主任 以及饮食、免疫反应和衰老方面的国际权威。这些 项目得到了免疫病理学核心的支持，该核心使 免疫球蛋白的免疫定量组织化学分析 所有调查人员都能得到的细胞因子。 行政核心将确保统计和数据的可用性 秘书助理。我们的目标是为根除 到本世纪末，SS和相关疾病。

Sjogren's Syndrome is an autoimmune systemic illness characterized by xerostomia and xerophthalmia secondary to destructive lymphocytic infiltration of salivary and lacrimal glands. The clinical picture runs the spectrum from localized glandular secretory insufficiency a generalized lymphoproliferative disorder at times terminating into lymphoma. Patients present initially to a dentist or otolaryngologist because of rampant dental caries, severe dry mouth or parotid gland swelling. The UTHSC in San Antonio proposes a detailed study of oral health and immune status in patients suffering from SS and is acknowledged international authority in autoimmune disorders. He has assembled a team of dental and medical scientist utilizing the latest techniques of molecular medicine and immunopathology, organized into three projects and two cores. Project I, (Bacteriologic and immunologic Studies of Xerostomia in SS) focuses on the relationship between salivary gland pathology, diminished salivary flow, caries formation, periodontitis and mucosal lesions. A detailed study of salivary bacterial flora, cytokines and immunoglobulins will be performed. Project II, (Regulation of Inflammatory Cytokines in SS Salivary Glands) Utilizes PCR to study the mRNA for pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines in relations to the severity of the SS lesion as determined by biopsy and focus score. Preliminary results suggest that TGFbeta may be an important natural immunosuppressive factor preventing the development of SS. Project III, (Suppression of SS in Transgenic Mice by Diet) employees a new transgenic mouse model for SS to evaluate the effect of low calorie restriction on salivary gland lesion and life spans. The PI of this project, Dr. Gabriel Fernandes, is also the Co-Director of the program and an international authority on diet, immune response and aging. These projects are supported by an Immunopathology Core which make immunoquantitative histochemical analysis for immunoglobulins and cytokines available to all investigators. Administrative Core will assure the availability of statistical and secretarial assistance. Our goal is to contribute to the eradication of SS and related diseases by the end of the century.