Environmental factors in the pathogenesis of primary Sjögren's syndrome

摘要: Primary Sjogren's syndrome (SS) is a systemic autoimmune disease in which exocrine organs, primarily the salivary and lacrimal glands, are targets of chronic inflammation, leading to severe dryness eyes mouth. Fatigue arthralgia also common, extraglandular manifestations involving respiratory, nervous vascular systems occur subset patients. Persistent activation type I interferon system, autoreactive B T cells with production disease-associated autoantibodies central pathogenesis. Genetic polymorphisms that associate an increased risk SS have been described, though risk-increase contributed by respective variant generally low. It thus becoming increasingly clear genetics cannot alone account for development other, presumably exogenous, factors must play critical role. Relatively few studies investigated exposure potential prior onset. Rather, many studied prevalent cases. In this review, we summarize current literature on exogenous pathogenesis including infections, hormones, smoking, solvents additional compounds. We delineate there evidence risk, our present knowledge confined suggesting their role Finally, outline future perspectives continued search environmental SS, research area great importance considering possibilities preventive measures.