To assess endothelial cell activation in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc).
Concomitant study of salivary gland biopsy tissues and sera for expression of E-selectin and its potent activator tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha), using immunostaining and enzyme-linked immunosorbent essay.
E-selectin was overexpressed in SSc patients, but not in controls. TNF alpha was detected in mast cells.
Mast cell-derived TNF alpha may contribute to endothelial cell activation in SSc.