| 1. Backgroud:Sjogren's syndrome (SS) is a diffuse connective tissue disease mainly affecting the exocrine tissue. Activated CD4+ T cells infiltrate SS patients'exocrine glands forming lymphocytic foci and several cytokines, such as IFN γ, IL-2, TNF α , are abnormally expressed. The inflammatory reaction shown by lymphocytic infiltration is thought to be Thl predominent. The trafficking of lymphocytes from circulation to the exocrine glands is a multi-step process and chemokine is an important regulator. Interferon-inducible protein-10 (IP-10), a CXC chemokine, is a relatively specific T cell attractant and its receptor CXCR3 is up-regulated on Thl cells. We intend to investigate whether IP-10 is involved in the inflammatory process of the labial gland of patients with SS.2. Methods:49 patients performed labial gland biopsy, and the number of lymphocytes foci was calculated as well as the IP-10 detection by the following methods: 39 biopsied labial tissues were collected and examined by RT-PCR, among them, 21 were from primary SS, 5 from secondary SS and 13 from other diseases. The specific primers of IP-10 was designed according to its cDNA sequence. With RT-PCR, after isolation of RNA and reverse transcription to cDNA, the IP-10 and β-actin were co-amplified with specific primers. The amplification products were gel-fractionated and stained by ethidium bromide, then analyzed by densitometry. The expression of IP-10 was semi-quantificated by IP-10/β-actin ratio. 21 samples were examined by immunohistochemistry with specific goat anti-IP-10 antibody, among them, 10 from primary SS, 3 from secondary SS and 8 from other diseases. 11 out of 21 samples were examined by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry both ways.3. Results:3.1 The sequence of PCR product by the designed primers was identical to that of human IP-10, so the specificity of the primers was confirmed.
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