Anti-SSA/Ro and anti-SSB/La antibodies in serum and saliva of patients with Sjogren's syndrome.

Autoantibodies to SSA/Ro and SSB/La antigens may have a pathogenic role in photosensitive skin disease and congenital complete heart block. Since salivary glands are the major target organ in Sjogren's syndrome (SS) we wondered whether these autoantibodies are present in saliva and may be involved in the sicca syndrome. Whole saliva and serum were collected from 15 patients with SS. Elisa analysis disclosed that 8 of the patients had anti-SSA/Ro antibodies, while 6 of them also had anti-SSB/La antibodies. Studies of immunoglobulin classes showed that the sera contained mainly IgG and IgM anti-SSA/Ro or SSB/La antibodies. One serum also contained IgA antibodies. Analysis of the saliva showed that in all positive samples IgG and IgA classes were present, while none of them contained IgM. Elisa and immunoblot analysis of sera and saliva from SLE patients without the sicca syndrome disclosed that both fluids contained anti-Sm antibodies. These findings suggest that the presence of anti-SSA/Ro and anti-SSB/La antibodies in saliva is not a unique phenomenon, characterizing the sicca syndrome. Therefore, their role in the pathogenicity of the Sjogren's syndrome has to be elucidated.