Metabolic changes during evolution of Sjögren's in both an animal model and human patients

Sjögren's (SS) involves salivary and lacrimal gland dysfunction. These studies examined metabolic profiles in the B6. <i>Il14α</i> transgene mouse model of SS and a cohort of human SS patients at different stages of disease. In B6. <i>Il14α</i> mice, products of glucose and fatty acid were common at 6 months of age, while products of amino acid metabolism were common at 12 months of age. Treating B6. <i>Il14α</i> mice with the glycolysis inhibitor 2-deoxyglucose from 6 to 10 months of age normalized salivary gland secretions, dacryoadenitis, hypergammaglobulinemia and physical performance, while treatment from 10 to 14 months of age failed to improve any of the clinical manifestations. Similarly, SS patients at an early stage of disease showed high glycolysis. SS patients with long-standing disease utilized predominantly amino acid metabolism, like B6. <i>Il14α</i> mice at 10-12 months of age. Additional studies are suggested to further define metabolic activities at the various disease stages.