Our objective was to determine the expression of pSS pathogenic biomarker MMP9 and its putative transcription factors ETS1 and LEF1, in labial salivary glands of pSS patients.
We investigated whether DNA of saliva, PBMCs, and labial salivary gland (LSG) biopsy tissue have shorter telomeres in pSS compared to controls. mRNA expression of genes associated with pSS pathogenesis (ETS1, LEF1, and MMP9), telomere DNA damage response (ATM), senescence (CDKN2A), telomerase inhibition (IFN-y, TGFβ1), and the shelterin complex (TPP1, POT1) were assessed in LSG tissue by qRT-PCR to examine potential defects in telomere maintenance.