Serum Autoantibodies from NOD Mice as Potential Diagnostic Indicators of Local and Systemic Inflammation in Sjögren's Disease [IgG_MCF_SH_179]

Male Non-Obese Diabetic (NOD) mice develops autoimmune dacryoadenitis beginning 6-8 weeks of age including lymphocytic infiltration of the lacrimal glands, reduced tear production, increased cysteine tear proteases and restructuring of extracellular membrane structural proteins. Autoantigens with high antibody reactivity in serum of disease model mice may have diagnostic potential for Sjögren's Disease. Serum was collected from mice at early (8 weeks,), intermediate (24 weeks) and advanced (33 weeks) stage of autoimmune dacryoadenitis. Serum was also collected from healthy control BALB/c mice at 8 and 28 weeks of age. Approximately 0.8 mL of blood was collected by cardiac puncture into serum separator tubes. Following cold centrifugation, serum was collected. 10 uL of serum per sample was used to determine reactivity against 94 autoantigens using proteinarray. Additionally, effect of age on the level of reactivity was also studied to determine if aging was a confounding the observed up or downregulation of serum autoantibodies. Diseased male NOD mice (8 weeks, N=3), (24 weeks, N=3), (33 weeks, N=3); Healthy male BALB/c control mice. (8 weeks, N=3), (28 weeks, N=3)