We analysed and compared electrophoretic tear protein patterns of healthy subjects and patients with different autoimmune diseases associated with secondary Sjogren's syndrome.
Tears were collected using the Schirmer's method. Proteins were separated by sodium-dodecyl sulfate poliacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The lanes were stained by Coomassie blue and/or silver.
Lactoferrin, albumin, lipocalin and lysozyme were found to be the main components being identified using molecular weight markers.
Electrophoretic analysis of tear proteins patterns is a fast, reproducible and simple method which provides information about the possibility of lacrimal gland involvement in autoimmmune diseases.