Alterations of CD8+ T cells in the blood and salivary glands of patients with primary Sjögren’s syndrome

. 2023 Jan 7;42(5):1327–1338. doi: 10.1007/s10067-022-06491-7

Key Points

• Primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS) is a chronic and systemic autoimmune disease. pSS patients had elevated blood levels of CD38 ⁺ HLA-DR⁺ CD8⁺ T cells and IFN-γ.

• The CD38 ⁺ HLA-DR⁺ CD8⁺ T cells positively correlated with disease parameters and serum IFN-γ.

• The salivary glands of pSS patients had appreciable CD8 ⁺ lymphocyte infiltration. CD8⁺ T cells may play crucial role in the pathogenesis of pSS.