Metabolic Changes During Evolution of Sjögren’s Syndrome in Both an Animal Model and Human Patients

Sjögren’s syndrome (SS) involves salivary and lacrimal gland dysfunction. These studies examined metabolic profiles in both the B6.Il14α transgene mouse model of SS and a cohort of human SS patients at different stages of disease. In B6.Il14α mice, products of glucose and fatty acid were common at 6 months of age, while products of amino acid metabolism were common at 12 months of age. Similarly, SS patients at an early stage of disease showed high glycolysis. SS patients with long-standing disease utilized predominantly amino acid metabolism, similar to B6.Il14α mice at 10-12 months of age. Additional studies are suggested to further define metabolic activities at the various disease stages.