Interleukin-22 (IL-22) affects epithelial tissue function and integrity in a context-dependent manner. IL-22 levels are elevated in salivary glands of Sjögren’s syndrome (SS) patients, but its role in the pathogenesis of this disease remains unclear. The objective of this study is to elucidate the impact of IL-22 on salivary gland tissue integrity and function in murine models. We showed that IL-22 levels in sera and salivary glands increased progressively in female non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice, accompanying the development of SS. Administration of IL-22 to the submandibular glands of NOD mice prior to the disease onset reduced salivary secretion and induced caspase-3 activation in salivary gland tissues, which were accompanied by alterations in multiple genes controlling tissue integrity and inflammation. Similarly, IL-22 administration to submandibular glands of C57BL/6 mice also induced hyposalivation and caspase-3 activation, whereas blockade of endogenous IL-22 in C57BL/6 mice treated with anti-CD3 antibody mitigated hyposalivation and caspase-3 activation. Finally, IL-22 treatment reduced the number of viable C57BL/6 mouse submandibular gland epithelial cells cultured in vitro, indicating a direct impact of this cytokine on these cells. We conclude that IL-22 exerts a detrimental impact on salivary gland tissues.

Intermittent fasting confers protections to various diseases including autoimmune disorders, but the specific effects of intermittent fasting on Sjögren’s syndrome (SS) remains inconclusive. The present study was undertaken to determine the specific impact of alternate-day fasting (ADF) on newly established SS-like sialadenitis using non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice. Female NOD mice were deprived of food every other day from 10 to 13 weeks of age, the early stage of established SS, and then analyzed for the disease characteristics. Mice in the ADF group had higher salivary flow rate and attenuated submandibular gland (SMG) inflammation, compared to the control mice fed with standard chow ad libitum. The improvements were accompanied with a decrease in the total leukocytes, T and B lymphocytes and activated CD4 and CD8 T cells, and a down-regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines IFN-γ and IL-17, chemokine receptor CXCR3 and its ligands CXCL9 and CXCL11 in the SMGs. ADF also led to elevated mRNA levels of water channel protein aquaporin 5 and tight junction protein claudin-1, two factors crucial for normal salivary secretion in the SMGs. In addition, ADF reduced the proportion of IFN-γ- and IL-17- expressing CD4 T cells and diminished mRNA levels of IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-17 in the total submandibular draining lymph node cells. Taken together, ADF is effective in ameliorating newly established SS-associated salivary gland exocrinopathy in NOD mice.

The transcription factor PU.1 is a member of the ETS family, which is expressed in a wide variety of hematopoietic lineages. Accumulating evidence has indicated that PU.1 plays a key role in hematopoiesis, and reduced expression of PU.1 leads to the pathogenesis of human myeloid leukemia. As a multi-functional factor, PU.1 is also required for mixed lineage leukemia (MLL) stem cell potential and the development of MLL. However, the function of PU.1 in human non-MLL leukemia and its molecular mechanism remains poorly understood. In the present study, PU.1 siRNA was demonstrated to efficiently inhibit the transcription level of oncogene MEIS1 in the human acute myeloid non-MLL leukemia U937 cell line. In addition, PU.1, as a positive regulator of MEIS1, performed a crucial role in maintaining cell proliferation. Using electrophoretic mobility shift assay, chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis and luciferase reporter assay, previously unexplored evidence that PU.1 activated the MEIS1 promoter through a conserved binding motif in vitro and in vivo was further defined. Overall, the present study provides insight into the molecular mechanism of the contribution of PU.1 to the pathogenesis of non-MLL U937 cells, which is mediated by direct regulation of MEIS1 transcription. The present data reveal the possibility of developing an alternative therapy for non-MLL leukemia by targeting PU.1-mediated MEIS1 gene activation.