The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of macrophage polarization in the pathogenesis of primary Sjogren’s syndrome (pSS). Peripheral venous blood samples were collected from 30 patients with pSS and 30 healthy controls. Minor salivary gland samples were abtainted from 10 of these patients and 10 non-pSS controls whose minor salivary gland didn’t fulfill the classification criteria for pSS. Enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay was used to examine the serum concentration of M1/M2 macrophage related cytokines (TNF-a, IL-6, IL-23, IL-4, IL-10 and TGF-β). Flow cytometry was used to examine the numbers of CD86+ M1 macrophages and CD206+ M2 macrophages in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Immunofluorescence was used to test the infiltration of macrophages in minor salivary glands. This study observed a significant increase in pSS patients both in the numbers of M1 macrophages in peripheral blood and serum levels of M1-related pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-23 and TNF-α). Conversely, M2 macrophages were downregulated in the peripheral blood of pSS patients. Similarly, in the minor salivary glands of pSS patients, the expression of M1 macrophages was increased, and that of M2 macrophages was decreased. Furthermore, a significantly positive correlation was found between the proportions of M1 macrophages in PBMCs and serum levels of IgG and RF. This study reveals the presence of an significant imbalance in M1/M2 macrophages in pSS patients. The M1 polarization of macrophages may play an central role in the pathogenesis of pSS.

中文翻译：

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M1/M2巨噬细胞极化在原发性干燥综合征中的作用

本研究的目的是探讨巨噬细胞极化在原发性干燥综合征（pSS）发病机制中的作用。采集 30 名 pSS 患者和 30 名健康对照者的外周静脉血样本。小唾液腺样本取自其中 10 名患者和 10 名小唾液腺不符合 pSS 分类标准的非 pSS 对照。采用酶联免疫吸附法检测血清中M1/M2巨噬细胞相关细胞因子（TNF-a、IL-6、IL-23、IL-4、IL-10、TGF-β）浓度。采用流式细胞术检测外周血单核细胞（PBMC）中CD86+M1巨噬细胞和CD206+M2巨噬细胞的数量。免疫荧光用于测试小唾液腺中巨噬细胞的浸润。这项研究观察到 pSS 患者外周血中 M1 巨噬细胞的数量和 M1 相关促炎细胞因子（IL-6、IL-23 和 TNF-α）的血清水平均显着增加。相反，pSS 患者外周血中的 M2 巨噬细胞表达下调。同样，在pSS患者的小唾液腺中，M1巨噬细胞的表达增加，而M2巨噬细胞的表达减少。此外，PBMCs中M1巨噬细胞的比例与血清IgG和RF水平呈显着正相关。这项研究揭示了 pSS 患者中 M1/M2 巨噬细胞存在显着失衡。巨噬细胞的 M1 极化可能在 pSS 的发病机制中发挥核心作用。