The Research Of The Expression Of EB Virus In PBMC And Salivary Glands Of Patients With Primary Sj(?)gren’’s Syndrome

OBJECTIVE:Primary Sj?gren’s Syndrome(p SS) is a chronic autoimmune disease involving lacrimal gland, salivary gland and other exocrine glands. It is characterized by a large number of lymphocytic infiltration. A lot of research have revealed that the pathogenesis of p SS is related to the infection of Epstein-Barr virus(EBV). Epstein-Barr Nuclear Antigen-1(EBNA-1) and Epstein-Barr Nuclear Antigen-2(EBNA-2) are core antigens which express in EBV latency. By measuring the EBV DNA copies in PBMC of p SS and detecting the expression of EBNA-1 and EBNA-2 in labial gland of patients with p SS, explore the relations between EBV and the pathogenesis of p SS. METHODS:Real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR was used to detect EBV loads in p SS patients and the normal controls.The expression of EBNA-1 and EBNA-2 in labial gland of 32 patients with p SS and 6 normal was detected with Immunohistochemical method(yellow-brown granular materials appear in the cytoplasm, nucleus is represent positive).RESULTS:(1) The positive rate of EBV infection in p SS is 100%(32/32), 89.2%(25/28) in normal control group. there was no significant difference between two groups by statistics analysis(P>0.05).(2) The EBV DNA copy number in 32 pSS patients and 28 normal controls were26.2±10.85 copies/μg and 8.6±5.21 copies/μg respectively. The statistics results indicated EBV DNA copy number in p SS patients was higher than that in normal conrols(P<0.05).(3) By comparing the clinical manifestations with EBV DNA copy number in 32 p SS, the EBV DNA copy number in the group with enlargement of parotid gland was significantly higher than the group with no enlargement of parotid gland(P<0.05). By correlation analysis between laboratory tests and EBV DNA copy number in 32 p SS, there was a positive correlation between the high level of Ig G and EBV DNA copy number(p<0.05).(4) EBNA-1 and EBNA-2 expressed positively in the lymphocytes and ductal epithelial cells of labial gland in some p SS patients. No EBNA-1 and EBNA-2 expressed in the normal control group. EBNA-1 positive rate of p SS labial gland was 68.8%(22/32), EBNA-2 positive rate was 62.5%(20/32). There was significant difference comparing with the normal control group(P<0.05).(5) The EBNA-1 positive in labial gland and negative patients appear no significant differences in clinical manifestations and laboratory tests(P>0.05). The EBNA-2 positive in labial gland and negative patients appear no significant differences in clinical manifestations and laboratory tests(P>0.05).CONCLUSION(1) The recent EBV infection is related with p SS pathogenesis.(2) The enlargement in parotid gland of p SS patients may indicate the active replication of EBV which may aggravate the disease.(3) The high level of Ig G may indicate the the active replication of EBV.(4) EBNA-1 and EBNA-2 are related to the pathogenesis of p SS by taking part in the infection of EBV.