Altered balance of interleukin-13/interferon-gamma contributes to lacrimal gland destruction and secretory dysfunction in CD25 knockout model of Sjögren's syndrome

The lacrimal gland (LG) of the CD25-/- model of Sjögren's syndrome (SS) has high interleukin (IL)-17, IL-13 and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) cytokines. The specific contribution of these cytokines to the onset and severity of dacryoadenitis in the CD25-/- mice has not been evaluated. CD25-/-IL-17A-/-, CD25-/-IL-17-/-IFN-γ-/- and CD25-/-IFN-γ-/- were used at 4, 8, 12, 16 weeks (W). Total lymphocytic infiltration was evaluated by histology and characterized by flow cytometry. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) concentration was measured in tears. Immunofluorescent staining evaluated expression of IFN-γ r... Mehr ...