Plasma extracellular vesicles promote follicular T helper cell expansion in primary Sjögren's syndrome

Quick Facts

  • Publication title: Plasma extracellular vesicles promote follicular T helper cell expansion in primary Sjögren's syndrome
  • Journal: Clin Immunol
  • Year: 2025
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.clim.2025.110458
  • PMID/PMCID: 39978662

Research overview

Primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) is a prevalent autoimmune disease characterized by exocrine gland dysfunction, with hallmarks of B cell and T cell overactivation, whose underlying mechanism remains largely unknown. These findings suggested pSS plasma EVs as an important contributor to pSS pathogenesis, which was of potential clinical interest in managing pSS.

Key findings

Primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) is a prevalent autoimmune disease characterized by exocrine gland dysfunction, with hallmarks of B cell and T cell overactivation, whose underlying mechanism remains largely unknown.

Herein, we show that pSS plasma contained more extracellular vesicles (EVs) than HC plasma, which promoted CD4+ T cell activation, Th1, and follicular T helper cell (Tfh) differentiation, aggravating pSS immunopathology.

Notably, pSS plasma EVs were enriched with miR-501-3p, mediating CD4+ T cell activation and Tfh cell differentiation.

Furthermore, miR-501-3p downregulated special AT-rich sequence-binding protein-1 (SATB1) to promote Tfh differentiation.

Echo Biotech Role

Echo Biotech contributed EV isolation and purification, EV characterization, miRNA profiling/sequencing and bioinformatic analysis; the study also used or cited Exosupur®.

Related platforms: Exoomics®, Research Reagents & Tools

Related services and capabilities: Biofluid EV Isolation & Purification, EV Basic Characterization (TEM/NTA/WB), EV miRNA Profiling / Sequencing, Research Reagent / Product Supply

Related products or reagents: Exosupur® EV Isolation/Purification Kit

References

Original publication: Plasma extracellular vesicles promote follicular T helper cell expansion in primary Sjögren's syndrome Clinical immunology. 2025. DOI: 10.1016/j.clim.2025.110458. PMID/PMCID: 39978662.