Editing Sjögren's disease (section)

=== Programmed cell death ===
Dysregulation of [[apoptosis]] (programmed cell death) is believed to play a role in the pathogenesis of a variety of autoimmune diseases, though its role in Sjögren's disease is controversial. Both the [[Fas receptor|Fas]] and [[Fas ligand]] proteins are [[overexpress]]ed in primary Sjögren's patients, while expression of [[Cyclin D1|BCL-1]], which is known to downregulate apoptosis, was found significantly reduced in acinar and ductal [[epithelial cells]] of Sjögren's patients compared to healthy people.<ref name="pmid12472667">{{cite journal | vauthors = Ohlsson M, Szodoray P, Loro LL, Johannessen AC, Jonsson R | title = CD40, CD154, Bax and Bcl-2 expression in Sjögren's syndrome salivary glands: a putative anti-apoptotic role during its effector phases | journal = Scand. J. Immunol. | volume = 56 | issue = 6 | pages = 561–71 | date = December 2002 | pmid = 12472667 | doi = 10.1046/j.1365-3083.2002.01168.x| s2cid = 39543376 | doi-access = free }}</ref><ref name="pmid11204278">{{cite journal | vauthors = Ohlsson M, Skarstein K, Bolstad AI, Johannessen AC, Jonsson R | title = Fas-induced apoptosis is a rare event in Sjögren's syndrome | journal = Lab. Invest. | volume = 81 | issue = 1 | pages = 95–105 | date = January 2001 | pmid = 11204278 | doi = 10.1038/labinvest.3780215 | doi-access = free }}</ref> ''[[In situ]]'' studies did not show increased apoptosis among glandular epithelial cells but did show reduced apoptosis among infiltrating mononuclear cells. Reduced apoptosis was also implicated in the accumulation of autoreactive B-cells found in the glands. The relationship of autoantibodies expressed in Sjögren's syndrome with apoptosis is still being researched.<ref name="borchers"/>