To understand the mechanism and pathogenesis of Sjögrens syndrome (SS) and to provide theoretical basis for the treatment of SS.
Salivary gland lymphocytes (SGL) from 20 patients with SS were analyzed by using immunohistochemical avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex (ABC) method.
A predominance of T cells was found in SGL with the majority belonging to the CD4+(TH), and the CD8+(TS) subset was obviously decreased, while the CD4+/CD8+ ratio was considerably increased. Most lymphocytes expressed HLA-DR antigen in SS. The deficiency of Ts and the overactivity of TH would result in autoantibody production, that would contribute to the reaction of autoimmune.
The immune hyperfunction at exocrine glands of SS is the direct cause of the pathogenesis of SS. SS is further proved to be an autoimmune disease.