Myoepithelial cell-driven acini contraction in response to oxytocin receptor stimulation is impaired in lacrimal glands of Sjögren's syndrome animal models

Hawley D, Tang X, Zyrianova T, Shah M, Janga S, Letourneau A, Schicht M, Paulsen F, Hamm-Alvarez S, Makarenkova HP, Zoukhri D (2018)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2018

Journal

Scientific Reports Nature Publishing Group: Open Access Journals - Option B

Book Volume: 8

Journal Issue: 1

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-28227-x

Abstract

The purpose of the present studies was to investigate the impact of chronic inflammation of the lacrimal gland, as occurs in Sjögren's syndrome, on the morphology and function of myoepithelial cells (MECs). In spite of the importance of MECs for lacrimal gland function, the effect of inflammation on MECs has not been well defined. We studied changes in MEC structure and function in two animal models of aqueous deficient dry eye, NOD and MRL/lpr mice. We found a statistically significant reduction in the size of MECs in diseased compared to control lacrimal glands. We also found that oxytocin receptor was highly expressed in MECs of mouse and human lacrimal glands and that its expression was strongly reduced in diseased glands. Furthermore, we found a significant decrease in the amount of two MEC contractile proteins, α-smooth muscle actin (SMA) and calponin. Finally, oxytocin-mediated contraction was impaired in lacrimal gland acini from diseased glands. We conclude that chronic inflammation of the lacrimal gland leads to a substantial thinning of MECs, down-regulation of contractile proteins and oxytocin receptor expression, and therefore impaired acini contraction. This is the first study highlighting the role of oxytocin mediated MEC contraction on lacrimal gland function.

Authors with CRIS profile

Martin Schicht Lehrstuhl für Funktionelle und Klinische Anatomie Friedrich Paulsen Lehrstuhl für Funktionelle und Klinische Anatomie

Involved external institutions

Tufts University US United States (USA) (US) Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) US United States (USA) (US) University of Southern California (USC) US United States (USA) (US)

How to cite

APA:

Hawley, D., Tang, X., Zyrianova, T., Shah, M., Janga, S., Letourneau, A.,... Zoukhri, D. (2018). Myoepithelial cell-driven acini contraction in response to oxytocin receptor stimulation is impaired in lacrimal glands of Sjögren's syndrome animal models. Scientific Reports, 8(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-28227-x

MLA:

Hawley, Dillon, et al. "Myoepithelial cell-driven acini contraction in response to oxytocin receptor stimulation is impaired in lacrimal glands of Sjögren's syndrome animal models." Scientific Reports 8.1 (2018).

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