CXCL13 as biomarker for histological involvement in Sjögren’s Syndrome

  • ESSENTIAL (EULAR Sjögren's Syndrome Study Group)
  • , HarmonicSS (H2020)
  • , Serena Colafrancesco
  • , Roberta Priori
  • , Charlotte Smith
  • , Antonina Minniti
  • , Valentina Iannizzotto
  • , Elena Pipi
  • , Davide Lucchesi
  • , Elena Pontarini
  • , Saba Nayar
  • , Joana Campos
  • , Francesca Arienzo
  • , Massimo Fusconi
  • , Bruna Cerbelli
  • , Carla Giordano
  • , Guido Valesini
  • , Michele Bombardieri
  • , Benjamin Fisher
  • , Francesca Barone

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

12 Citations (Scopus)
377 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: SS is an autoimmune condition characterized by systemic B-cell activation, autoantibody production and ectopic germinal centres' formation within the salivary gland (SG). The extent of SG infiltrate has been proposed as a biomarker of disease severity. Plasma levels of CXCL13 correlate with germinal centres' activity in animal models and disease severity in SS, suggesting its potential use as a surrogate serum marker to monitor local B-cell activation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential role of CXCL13 as a biomarker of SG pathology in two independent SS cohorts.

METHODS: 109 patients with SS were recruited at Sapienza University of Rome (Italy) (n = 60), or at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham and Barts Health NHS Trust in London (n = 49). Both sera and matched minor SG biopsy were available. Sicca (n = 57) and healthy subjects' (n = 19) sera were used as control.

RESULTS: CXCL13 serum level was higher in SS patients compared with controls. Correlations between its serum levels and a series of histomorphological parameters, including size of the aggregates and the presence germinal centres', were observed.

CONCLUSION: Our data foster the use of CXCL13 to monitor the extent of local pathology in SS and its validation in longitudinal clinical studies.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)165-170
Number of pages6
JournalRheumatology (Oxford, England)
Volume59
Issue number1
Early online date4 Jul 2019
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2020

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 The Author(s) 2019. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Society for Rheumatology. All rights reserved.

Keywords

  • Sjögren’s syndrome
  • biomarkers
  • histopathology
  • cytokines and inflammatory mediators
  • lymphocytes

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  • H2020_RIA_HARMONICSS

    Barone, F. (Principal Investigator)

    European Commission

    1/01/1731/12/20

    Project: EU

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