Salivary and lacrimal gland involvement is a characteristic feature of primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS), where tissue destruction is mediated by mononuclear cell infiltration, resulting in lacrimal and salivary gland impairment. We have previously shown distinct prevalence of adipose tissue replacement in the minor salivary gland tissue from pSS patients. The salivary gland microenvironment was further examined through microarray analysis, identifying signalling pathways that promoted adipose tissue development, inflammation, and lymphoma. As B cells may also contribute to disease progression, we now aimed to study the B cell pattern with regard to adipocyte development in pSS. Double immunohistochemical staining of paraffin-embedded salivary gland tissue from 22 pSS patients and 11 non-SS tissue controls was employed, using the characteristic pSS autoantigens Ro52 or Ro60, alongside CD27. Additional CD138/CD20 double staining was also performed to identify the plasma- and general B- cell pattern. Our results demonstrated CD27-positive Ro52 and Ro60 specific cells observed within and in close proximity to the adipose tissue. CD138-positive plasma cells were also seen in areas of adipose tissue replacement, while the CD20+ cells were located within focal infiltrates, forming distinct B cell zones. The quantification of CD138+ and CD20+ cells revealed elevated numbers of CD138+ cells in areas of fatty infiltration, and also interstitially, in the salivary glands of pSS patients when compared to non-SS controls. A significant increase (p < .01) in CD138+ cells close to areas of fatty infiltration, and interstitially, with increasing fatty infiltration and focus score was further observed in pSS patients. A correlation between the number of CD20+ B cell zones/mm2 of salivary gland tissue and focus score values was also witnessed in the patients (r2 = 0.6047, p < .001). In conclusion, autoantigen-specific B cells and plasma cells appear prominent in areas of fatty infiltration in salivary glands of pSS patients, where an increase in CD138+ plasma cells and CD20+ B cells, in relation to both fatty and focal infiltration, suggests their active involvement in promoting inflammation. Further studies are needed to assess whether these adipocytes are also a result of tissue repair.

中文翻译：

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在患有干燥综合征的患者唾液腺中，自身抗原特异性B细胞和浆细胞在脂肪浸润区域突出。

唾液和泪腺受累是原发性干燥综合征（pSS）的特征，组织破坏是由单核细胞浸润介导的，导致泪腺和唾液腺受损。我们以前已经显示了来自pSS患者的唾液腺组织中脂肪组织置换的明显流行。通过微阵列分析进一步检查了唾液腺微环境，确定了促进脂肪组织发育，炎症和淋巴瘤的信号通路。由于B细胞也可能促进疾病进展，因此我们现在旨在研究pSS中脂肪细胞发育的B细胞模式。对来自22名pSS患者和11名非SS组织对照的石蜡包埋的唾液腺组织进行了双重免疫组织化学染色，使用特征性pSS自身抗原Ro52或Ro60，以及CD27。还进行了额外的CD138 / CD20双重染色以鉴定血浆和一般B细胞模式。我们的结果表明，在脂肪组织内和脂肪组织附近观察到CD27阳性的Ro52和Ro60特异性细胞。在脂肪组织置换的区域中还可以看到CD138阳性浆细胞，而CD20 +细胞则位于局部浸润内，形成了独特的B细胞区。与非SS对照相比，对CD138 +和CD20 +细胞的定量显示，pSS患者的唾液腺中脂肪浸润区域以及间质中CD138 +细胞数量增加。CD138 +细胞中靠近脂肪浸润区域的显着增加（p <.01），并且 在pSS患者中进一步观察到脂肪浸润和焦点评分增加。病人的唾液腺组织的CD20 + B细胞区数量/ mm2与聚焦评分值之间也存在相关性（r2 = 0.6047，p <.001）。总之，自身抗原特异性B细胞和浆细胞在pSS患者唾液腺的脂肪浸润区域显得突出，其中CD138 +浆细胞和CD20 + B细胞的增加与脂肪浸润和局灶浸润有关，提示它们积极参与在促进炎症。需要进一步的研究来评估这些脂肪细胞是否也是组织修复的结果。病人的唾液腺组织的CD20 + B细胞区数量/ mm2与聚焦评分值之间也存在相关性（r2 = 0.6047，p <.001）。总之，自身抗原特异性B细胞和浆细胞在pSS患者唾液腺的脂肪浸润区域显得突出，其中CD138 +浆细胞和CD20 + B细胞的增加与脂肪浸润和局灶浸润有关，提示它们积极参与在促进炎症。需要进一步的研究来评估这些脂肪细胞是否也是组织修复的结果。病人的唾液腺组织中的CD20 + B细胞区数量/ mm2与聚焦评分之间也存在相关性（r2 = 0.6047，p <.001）。总之，自身抗原特异性B细胞和浆细胞在pSS患者唾液腺的脂肪浸润区域显得突出，其中CD138 +浆细胞和CD20 + B细胞的增加与脂肪浸润和局灶浸润有关，提示它们积极参与在促进炎症。需要进一步的研究来评估这些脂肪细胞是否也是组织修复的结果。关于脂肪和局灶性浸润，表明它们积极参与促进炎症。需要进一步的研究来评估这些脂肪细胞是否也是组织修复的结果。关于脂肪和局灶性浸润，表明它们积极参与促进炎症。需要进一步的研究来评估这些脂肪细胞是否也是组织修复的结果。