Table 3.
A comparison of the general features of PBC and SS.
| PBC | SS | |
|---|---|---|
| Female/male ratio | 10:1 | 9:1 |
| Mean age at diagnosis | 55 | Bimodal (20, 50) |
| Disease target | bile duct, salivary gland epithelia, and uroepithelium | salivary gland, bile duct, bronchial, alveolar, and tubular epithelia |
| Environmental factors | Bacteria, xenobiotics | Putative viral infections (EBV, retroviruses) |
| Epigenetics | Different methylation in hemidesmosome gene; disease-specific miRNAs in minor salivary glands | Different methylation at X-linked promoters |
| Proteomics | Possible serum biomarkers, no liver tissue disease-specific biomarkers | Proposed salivary biomarkers |