Involvement of aquaporin 5 in Sjo?gren?s syndrome

Sjo center dot gren's syndrome (SS) is a chronic autoimmune disease with the pathological hallmark of lymphoplasmacytic infiltration of exocrine glands - more specifically salivary and lacrimal glands - resulting in a diminished production of tears and saliva (sicca syndrome). The pathophysiology underscoring the mechanisms of the sicca symptoms in SS has still yet to be unraveled but recent advances have identified a cardinal role of aquaporin-5 (AQP5) as a key player in saliva secretion as well as salivary gland epithelial cell dysregulation. AQP5 expression and localization are significantly altered in salivary glands from patients and mice models of the disease, shedding light on a putative mechanism accounting for diminished salivary flow. Furthermore, aberrant expression and localization of AQP5 protein partners, such as prolactin-inducible protein and ezrin, may account for altered AQP5 localization in salivary glands from patients suffering from SS and are considered as new players in SS development. This review provides an overview of the role of AQP5 in SS salivary gland epithelial cell dysregulation, focusing on its trafficking and protein-protein interactions.

Automated summary

Sjo center dot gren's syndrome (SS) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by lymphoplasmacytic infiltration of salivary and lacrimal glands, leading to a decrease in tear and saliva production. Recent research has identified aquaporin-5 (AQP5) as a key player in saliva secretion and dysregulation of salivary gland epithelial cells in SS. Altered expression and localization of AQP5, as well as its protein partners, are considered new factors in the development of SS.