In Situ Characterization of the Cellular Infiltrate in Labial and Palatine Glands in Sjögren's Syndrome

The inflammatory cells in the minor salivary glands in situ in 11 patients with Sjögren's syndrome were characterized by using intracellular markers for T lymphocytes, plasma cells, mononuclear phagocytes and granulocytes. The methods used to demonstrate the markers were optimized histochemical and immunoperoxidase techniques which did not disturb the simultaneous morphological study of the marker-positive cells. Acid alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase (ANAE)-positive T lymphocytes accounted for 33 +/- 22%, mononuclear phagocytes for 8 +/- 4% and ANEA-negative (B) lymphocytes for 59 +/- 23% of all cells in the periductal lymphocyte-rich infiltrates, indicating great variations between individual patients. However, variations between labial and palatine glands in individual patients were usually less than 10%, indicating that the disease was at the same stage. Plasma cells were located peripherally to the lymphocytic foci and situated between the glandular acini. Equal proportions of plasma cells containing kappa-light chains (34 +/- 8%) and lambda-light chains (31 +/- 10%) were seen in individual patients, indicating polyclonal B lymphocyte activation. The results indicate differences in the local pathogenetic mechanisms or stage of disease in individual patients with Sjögren's syndrome.