Augmented expression of CD44 splice variants in lymphoproliferative disorder of the lacrimal gland in Sjögren's syndrome.

We explored the involvement of CD44 isoforms in lymphoproliferative disorder (LPD) of the lacrimal gland of a Sjögren's syndrome patient with unilateral LPD. The CD44 variant with the v6 exon was selectively detected from infiltrating lymphocytes in the gland with LPD, but not from infiltrating lymphocytes in the normal lacrimal gland, suggesting that the CD44 v6 variant exon may be closely associated with the development of LPD in Sjögren's syndrome.