Programmed cell death in primary Sjögren’s disease: regulatory network analysis and therapeutic prospects evaluation

Primary Sjögren’s disease (SjD) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by chronic inflammation of exocrine glands, such as the salivary and lacrimal glands. The pathogenesis of SjD remains largely unclear, and there are currently no effective curative therapies. Programmed cell death (PCD) and its regulatory network play a crucial role in the onset and progression of SjD. PCD mechanisms such as apoptosis, autophagy, pyroptosis, and ferroptosis are widely involved in the pathological mechanisms and prognosis of SjD by regulating the immune-inflammatory microenvironment, mediating the imbalance of glandular epithelial cell homeostasis, and affecting the release and clearance of self-antigens. Based on this, targeting the regulation of PCD to treat SjD has become a new therapeutic strategy. Existing evidence indicates that modulating the expression of certain miRNAs and proteins, as well as employing modern medical drugs, traditional Chinese medicine, and their active components, can influence the pathological processes of glandular inflammation and tissue damage in SjD through the regulation of apoptosis, autophagy, pyroptosis, and ferroptosis. These findings provide potential targets for precise treatment based on the PCD network.This article reviews recent relevant literature to clarify the relationship between PCD and SjD, and focuses on the molecular regulatory networks of different types of PCD in SjD and their therapeutic prospects, aiming to provide new ideas and insights for the prevention and treatment of SjD.