Figure 1.

Schematic representation of TGF-β-mediated EMT signalling in SS. In a situation of chronic inflammation, TGF-β activates the canonical SMAD2/3 and the non-canonical ERK-mediated pathways, triggering the EMT process in salivary gland epithelial cells. The activation of transcription factors (such as SNAIL), promotes the prolonged induction of EMT, repressing epithelial marker genes and activating genes linked to the mesenchymal phenotype. Pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-17, IL-22, and IL-6, induce EMT-dependent severe fibrosis in SGs.