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Elevated Serum Levels of Soluble E‐Cadherin in Patients with Primary Sjögren's Syndrome

The aim of this study was to investigate serum levels of soluble E‐cadherin (sE‐cadherin) in relation to lymphocytic organization and to characterize the expression of E‐cadherin and integrin αEβ7/CD103 in salivary gland epithelium of patients with Sjögren's syndrome (SS). Serum levels of sE‐cadherin were significantly increased in SS compared to non‐SS and nonsignificantly in germinal centre (GC)+ compared to GC– patients. Membrane‐bound E‐cadherin was detected on the majority of acinar and ductal epithelial cells in both SS and non‐SS. αEβ7/CD103‐positive cells were found scattered in focal infiltrates and GC, and in small clusters close to ductal and acinar epithelium at an increased level in SS compared to non‐SS. Interestingly, E‐cadherin‐positive cells were detected randomly dispersed in focal lymphocytic infiltrates in 10/21 patients. By double‐labelling, the cells with the E‐cadherin‐positive component were identified as CD68+ macrophages. Elevated serum levels of sE‐cadherin indicate an increased epithelial cell turnover and shedding, and sE‐cadherin deserves further analysis as a potential diagnostic tool for SS.