Sialendoscopic management of autoimmune sialadenitis: a review of literature

Autoimmune diseases of major salivary glands include Sjögren's syndrome and a complex of disorders classified as immunoglobulin G4-related diseases. These pathologies are characterised by an autoimmune reaction mediated by T-helper lymphocytes that targets the ducts of exocrine glands in Sjögren's syndrome and glandular parenchyma in immunoglobulin G4-related diseases. Immunoglobulin G4-related diseases represent recently introduced multi-organ diseases that also involve the salivary glands. However, the morbid conditions once known as Mikulicz's disease and Kuttner's tumour were recently considered as two variants of immunoglobulin G4-related diseases affecting the major salivary glands ( immunoglobulin G4-related sialadenitis). This review briefly summarises the pathogenesis and clinical features of autoimmune diseases of the major salivary glands, focusing on the diagnostic and therapeutic role of sialendoscopy

Sjögren Syndrome Complicated by Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue Lymphoma and Lymphocytic Interstitial Pneumonia.

Sjögren syndrome (SS) is an autoimmune disease with exocrine glands dysfunction and multiorgan involvement. It is associated with increased risk of lymphoproliferative disorders, especially B-cell marginal zone lymphoma. While the role of F-18 Fluorodeoxyglucose position emission tomography/computed tomography (F-18 FDG PET/CT) for evaluation of lymphoma has been established, its use in patients with a chronic history of SS to evaluate for possible lymphoproliferative disorders or multiorgan involvement is limited. We present a case of chronic SS in which F-18 FDG PET/CT demonstrated FDG avid intraparotid and cervical lymph nodes pathologically proven to be mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma. In addition, the patient had bibasilar cystic changes consistent with lymphocytic interstitial pneumonia

Thyroidal and Extrathyroidal Requirements for Iodine and Selenium:A Combined Evolutionary and (Patho)Physiological Approach

Iodide is an antioxidant, oxidant and thyroid hormone constituent. Selenoproteins are needed for triiodothyronine synthesis, its deactivation and iodine release. They also protect thyroidal and extrathyroidal tissues from hydrogen peroxide used in the ‘peroxidase partner system’. This system produces thyroid hormone and reactive iodine in exocrine glands to kill microbes. Exocrine glands recycle iodine and with high urinary clearance require constant dietary supply, unlike the thyroid. Disbalanced iodine-selenium explains relations between thyroid autoimmune disease (TAD) and cancer of thyroid and exocrine organs, notably stomach, breast, and prostate. Seafood is iodine unconstrained, but selenium constrained. Terrestrial food contains little iodine while selenium ranges from highly deficient to highly toxic. Iodine vs. TAD is U-shaped, but only low selenium relates to TAD. Oxidative stress from low selenium, and infection from disbalanced iodine-selenium, may generate cancer of thyroid and exocrine glands. Traditional Japanese diet resembles our ancient seashore-based diet and relates to aforementioned diseases. Adequate iodine might be in the milligram range but is toxic at low selenium. Optimal selenoprotein-P at 105 µg selenium/day agrees with Japanese intakes. Selenium upper limit may remain at 300–400 µg/day. Seafood combines iodine, selenium and other critical nutrients. It brings us back to the seashore diet that made us what we currently still are

Queen Specific Exocrine Glands in Legionary Ants and Their Possible Function in Sexual Selection

abstract: The colonies of army ants and some other legionary ant species have single, permanently wingless queens with massive post petioles and large gasters. Such highly modified queens are called dichthadiigynes. This paper presents the unusually rich exocrine gland endowment of dichthadiigynes, which is not found in queens of other ant species. It has been suggested these kinds of glands produce secretions that attract and maintain worker retinues around queens, especially during migration. However, large worker retinues also occur in non-legionary species whose queens do not have such an exuberance of exocrine glands. We argue and present evidence in support of our previously proposed hypothesis that the enormous outfit of exocrine glands found in dichthadiigynes is due to sexual selection mediated by workers as the main selecting agents.The article is published at http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.015160

Autoantibodies against Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptor on Exocrine Glands in Sjögren Syndrome

These investigations demonstrate that serum antibodies against muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChR) in primary Sjögren syndrome (pSS) and associated Sjögren syndrome (aSS) bind and activate both cholinergic receptors of M3 in salivary gland and M1 in neonatal myocardium and in the cerebral frontal cortex area subtypes; triggering the production of the second messengers and proinflammatory mediators related to mAChR activation. In this way the cholinergic autoantibodies damages these receptors, which thus starts acting as an antigen. On this basis M3 and M1 mAChR IgG can be considered new markers of pSS/aSS allowing the differentiation between dry eye and mouth of autoimmune and non-autoimmune nature. Given that cholinergic autoantibodies also deregulate the parasympathetic system of the target organs, they can also be seen as a new factor contributing to the etiopathology of the syndrome.Fil: Reina, Silvia Lorena. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Odontología. Cátedra de Farmacología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Borda, Enri Santiago. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Odontología. Cátedra de Farmacología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Chemical investigations of insect exocrine glands

The trail-following component of the trail pheromone of Pheldole pallidal a has been identified as a 3-ethy1-2,5-dimethylpyraz1ne. It is present in minor but not major workers. Another component which acts as primer appears to be required but it has not been identified. A time study of the filling of the Dufour gland of Formica sanquinea from emergence of adults for several months has shown the gland fills slowly and the composition changes with time. A re-examination of the mandibular gland secretion of Tetramorlum caespitum has shown It contains chiefly 4-methyl-3-hexano1 not 3-octanone. The Dufour glands of workers and queens of the myrmicine ants Leptothorax acervorum and Messor minor and the formicine ant Camponotus aethlops have shown little differences between the castes. Dufour glands of workers of the myrmicine species leptothorax nylanderi. Hessor capltatus, T. caespitum. Myrmica lonae. Myrmica sabuleti, Hyrmlca aloba. and Hyrmica scabrinodls. and the formicine species Formica fusca. Formica lemani, Lasius fullqlnosus, Camponotus aeqyptiacus. Camponotus vagus and Cataglyphis saviqnyl have been carried out. Examination of caespitum from a wide range of habitats has shown no significant differences In composition. For F. fusca and F. lemani. the substances of the Dufour gland enable the species to be distinguished chemically. Attempts to use Dufour gland substances to distinguish between a group of uncertain Hyrmlca species was inconclusive. The Dufour glands of major and minor workers of C. aegyptlacus have quite different composition, the former contain acetates in quantity. Attempts to study the sexual pheromone of the beetle Attaqenus scalarls were frustrated by the inability to aaintain live insects. Hexadecanoic acid, octadecano1c ac1d and octadecenoic acid were 1dent1f1ed in the body 1n sign1f1cant quant1t1es and w1ll have to be tested to see if they prov1de the pheromone

CD4 T lymphocyte autophagy is upregulated in the salivary glands of primary Sjögren’s syndrome patients and correlates with focus score and disease activity

Background: Primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS) is a common chronic autoimmune disease characterized by lymphocytic infiltration of exocrine glands and peripheral lymphocyte perturbation. In the current study, we aimed to investigate the possible pathogenic implication of autophagy in T lymphocytes in patients with pSS. Methods: Thirty consecutive pSS patients were recruited together with 20 patients affected by sicca syndrome a nd/or chronic sialoadenitis and 30 healthy controls. Disease activity and damage were evaluated according to SS disease activity index, EULAR SS disease activity index, and SS disease damage index. T lymphocytes were analyzed for the expression of autophagy-specific markers by biochemical, molecular, and histological assays in peripheral blood and labial gland biopsies. Serum interleukin (IL)-23 and IL-21 levels were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Our study provides evidence for the first time that autophagy is upregulated in CD4+ T lymphocyte salivary glands from pSS patients. Furthermore, a statistically significant correlation was detected between lymphocyte autophagy levels, disease activity, and damage indexes. We also found a positive correlation between autophagy enhancement and the increased salivary gland expression of IL-21 and IL-23, providing a further link between innate and adaptive immune responses in pSS. Conclusions: These findings suggest that CD4+ T lymphocyte autophagy could play a key role in pSS pathogenesis. Additionally, our data highlight the potential exploitation of T cell autophagy as a biomarker of disease activity and provide new ground to verify the therapeutic implications of autophagy as an innovative drug target in pSS

Mucosal colonization of gastric endocrine tumors mimicking mixed neoplasms

Two cases of gastric tumors showing mixed composition of endocrine cell clusters and exocrine glands and originally diagnosed as mixed neoplasms are described. In both cases, the exocrine glandular component was restricted to the upper third of the neoplasms being consistently absent in areas of muscular wall invasion and, in case 2, in nodal metastases. These glands were in close anatomical contiguity with the glands of the overlying gastric mucosa or, in case 1, apparently derived from deep pouch-like invaginations of the mucosa. They showed either lack of dysplasia (case 1) or mild dysplasia (case 2) with a Ki67 proliferation index consistently lower than that of the intramucosal glands. The intratumoral glands presented intestinal metaplastic features confirmed by intense Cdx2 immunostaining that, conversely, was absent in the endocrine component of the tumors. The latter showed intense vesicular monoamine transporter 2 immunoreactivity consistent with its origin from the enterochromaffin-like cells of the gastric oxyntic mucosa. On the basis of these findings, it is proposed that the exocrine glands do not represent a true neoplastic component of the tumors. Although mucosal entrapment by the tumor cannot be ruled out, they more likely reflect a hitherto unrecognized mechanism of mucosal colonization of gastric endocrine tumors

Molecular evolution of gland cell types and chemical interactions in animals

Across the Metazoa, the emergence of new ecological interactions has been enabled by the repeated evolution of exocrine glands. Specialized glands have arisen recurrently and with great frequency, even in single genera or species, transforming how animals interact with their environment through trophic resource exploitation, pheromonal communication, chemical defense and parental care. The widespread convergent evolution of animal glands implies that exocrine secretory cells are a hotspot of metazoan cell type innovation. Each evolutionary origin of a novel gland involves a process of ‘gland cell type assembly’: the stitching together of unique biosynthesis pathways; coordinated changes in secretory systems to enable efficient chemical release; and transcriptional deployment of these machineries into cells constituting the gland. This molecular evolutionary process influences what types of compound a given species is capable of secreting, and, consequently, the kinds of ecological interactions that species can display. Here, we discuss what is known about the evolutionary assembly of gland cell types and propose a framework for how it may happen. We posit the existence of ‘terminal selector’ transcription factors that program gland function via regulatory recruitment of biosynthetic enzymes and secretory proteins. We suggest ancestral enzymes are initially co-opted into the novel gland, fostering pleiotropic conflict that drives enzyme duplication. This process has yielded the observed pattern of modular, gland-specific biosynthesis pathways optimized for manufacturing specific secretions. We anticipate that single-cell technologies and gene editing methods applicable in diverse species will transform the study of animal chemical interactions, revealing how gland cell types are assembled and functionally configured at a molecular level