Evaluation of immune pathways in the conjunctiva of Sjogren Syndrome keratoconjunctivitis sicca

After signing the informed consent, female SS patients (n = 7) and age-and-sex-matched healthy controls (n = 19) completed a series of oral, ocular surface exams. Symptom severity scores were evaluated using validated questionnaires (OSDI and SANDE). All patients fulfilled the ACR/EULAR criteria for SS and the criteria for KCS. Tear meniscus height was measured by optical coherence tomography. Fluorescein and lissamine green dye staining evaluated tear-break-up time (TBUT), corneal and conjunctival disease, respectively. Impression cytology of the temporal bulbar conjunctiva was performed using the Eyeprim™ device. The cells collected were then lysed, total RNA was isolated and subjected to gene expression analysis using the human nCounter® Nanostring Immunology Panel. The RNA from the conjunctiva of female SS patients (n = 7) and age-and-sex-matched healthy controls (n = 19) was assayed using the Immunology Pannel 2 from NanoString.