
Salivary gland epithelial cells (SGECs) are key cellular drivers in the pathogenesis of primary Sjӧgren’s Syndrome (pSS); however, the mechanisms sustaining SGECs activation in pSS remain undetermined. The aim of this study is to determine the role of autophagy in the survival and activation of SGECs in pSS. Primary SGECs isolated from minor salivary glands (SG) of patients with pSS or sicca syndrome were evaluated by flow‐cytometry, immunoblotting, and immunofluorescence to assess autophagy (autophagic‐flux, LC3IIB, p62, LC3B+/LAMP1+ staining), apoptosis (annexin V/PI, Caspase‐3) and activation (ICAM, VCAM). Focus score and germinal centers presence was assessed in SG from the same patients to correlate with histological severity. Human salivary gland (HSG) cells were stimulated in vitro with PBMCs and serum from pSS patients...
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