@article {1360123,
	title = {Sex Effects on Gene Expression in Lacrimal Glands of Mouse Models of Sj{\"o}gren Syndrome},
	journal = {Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci},
	volume = {59},
	number = {13},
	year = {2018},
	month = {2018 Nov 01},
	pages = {5599-5614},
	abstract = {Purpose: Sj{\"o}gren syndrome is an autoimmune disease that occurs primarily in women, and is associated with lacrimal gland inflammation and aqueous-deficient dry eye. We hypothesize that sex-associated differences in lacrimal gland gene expression are very important in promoting lymphocyte accumulation in this tissue and contribute to the onset, progression, and/or severity of the inflammatory disease process. To test our hypothesis, we explored the nature and extent of sex-related differences in gene expression in autoimmune lacrimal glands. Methods: Lacrimal glands were collected from age-matched, adult, male and female MRL/MpJ-Tnfrsf6lpr (MRL/lpr) and nonobese diabetic/LtJ (NOD) mice. Glands were processed for the analysis of differentially expressed mRNAs by using CodeLink Bioarrays and Affymetrix GeneChips. Data were evaluated with bioinformatics and statistical software. Results: Our results show that sex significantly influences the expression of thousands of genes in lacrimal glands of MRL/lpr and NOD mice. The immune nature of this glandular response is very dependent on the Sj{\"o}gren syndrome model. Lacrimal glands of female, as compared with male, MRL/lpr mice contain a significant increase in the expression of genes related to inflammatory responses, antigen processing, and chemokine pathways. In contrast, it is the lacrimal tissue of NOD males, and not females, that presents with a significantly greater expression of immune-related genes. Conclusions: These data support our hypothesis that sex-related differences in gene expression contribute to lacrimal gland disease in Sj{\"o}gren syndrome. Our findings also suggest that factors in the lacrimal gland microenvironment are critically important in mediating these sex-associated immune effects.},
	issn = {1552-5783},
	doi = {10.1167/iovs.18-25772},
	author = {Tellefsen, Sara and Morthen, Mathias Kaurstad and Richards, Stephen M and Lieberman, Scott M and Rahimi Darabad, Raheleh and Kam, Wendy R and Sullivan, David A}
}
