Correlation between salivary epidermal growth factor levels and refractory intraoral manifestations in patients with Sjögren's syndrome

Abstract

The salivary flow rate and EGF levels are decreased in SS, and this deterioration in saliva quality causes refractory intraoral manifestations. Our findings have provided new therapeutic targets for SS.

Diminished salivary epidermal growth factor secretion: a link between Sjögren’s syndrome and autoimmune gastritis?

“…Diminished production of saliva in SS may lead to diminished secretion of salivary gland-derived proteins and also impair the quality of saliva. In this study we show that salivary EGF secretion is diminished in SS, a result that is compatible with earlier findings (11,13). The absence of any correlation between EGF and total protein secretion indicates that the decline in EGF in SS is not just a consequence of diminished overall protein secretion.…”

Rapid decrease in salivary epidermal growth factor levels in patients with Sjögren's syndrome: A 3-year follow-up study

“…Twenty-three patients with SS and fourteen individuals without SS serving as controls (non-SS group) who participated in our previous study [16] and were subsequently followed up for three years at the Division of Rheumatology, Hyogo College of Medicine Hospital, were enrolled in this study. Of these, 14 had primary SS and 9 had secondary SS (comorbidities: rheumatoid arthritis (RA; n = 3), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE; n = 3), systemic sclerosis (n = 2), and mixed connective tissue disease (n = 1)).…”

“…Whole stimulated saliva was obtained in the same manner as in our previous study [16]. In particular, the subjects chewed gum (Free Zone Gum Hi-Mint ® ; Lotte, Tokyo, Japan) for 10 min, and expectorated saliva was collected into graduated centrifuge tubes.…”

“…Although salivary EGF levels in SS patients have not been thoroughly investigated, we previously reported that the salivary flow rate and EGF levels decreased with the progression of SS, and this deterioration in saliva quality as well as hyposalivation could play a role in the pathogenesis of refractory intraoral manifestations in SS patients [16]. The objective of the current study was to evaluate changes in salivary EGF levels in the course of three years in the same SS patients and to assess the association between these changes and the severity of intraoral manifestations in SS.…”

Use of B lymphocyte stimulator inhibitor belimumab may be associated with a decrease in the serum concentration of epidermal growth factor in patients with primary Sjögren’s syndrome

“…In a paper by Gorgoulis et al on patients with secondary SS, the epithelial duct cells have been described to express both EGF and EGFr, particularly in the areas of lymphoepithelial lesion and tissue destruction [2]. This suggests that EGF and EGF-r may play a significant role in the disease progression under constant EBV stimulation, which appears to upregulate EGF/EGF-r system expression.…”