Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40314468›Full record

ArticleEye & contact lens2025

A Distinguishable Peripheral Blood and Conjunctival Transcriptome and Gut Microbiome in Sjögren's Disease: A Pilot Study.

Robert D Nguyen, Jeremy Nortey, Elisabeth Gebreegziabher, Armin Hinterwirth, Lina Zhong, Cindi Chen, Thuy Doan, Thomas M Lietman, John A Gonzales

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Eye & contact lens, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Robert D NguyenFrancis I. Proctor Foundation (R.D.N., J.N., E.G., A.H., L.Z., C.C., T.D., T.M.L., J.A.G.), University of California, San Francisco, CA; Department of Ophthalmology (T.D., T.M.L., J.A.G.), University of California, San Francisco, CA; Department of Ophthalmology (J.N.), Northwestern University, Chicago, IL.
Jeremy Nortey
Elisabeth Gebreegziabher
Armin Hinterwirth
Lina Zhong
Cindi Chen
Thuy Doan
Thomas M Lietman

Funding

Non-Sjogren's Syndrome-and Sjogren's Syndrome-related Keratoconjunctivitis SICCA: A Spectrum of Inflammatory Dry EyeK23EY026998 · NEI · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO · PI GONZALES, JOHN ALEXANDER · 2016 to 2020
$1.3M
INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH REGISTRY NETWORK FOR SJOGERNS SYNDROME-268032636N01DE032636 · NIDCR · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO · PI GREENSPAN, JOHN · 2005 to 2006
–
Foundation for the National Institutes of Health K23 Award EY026998NEI NIH HHS K23 EY026998NIDCR NIH HHS N01 DE032636
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveTo create a comprehensive multi-tissue molecular atlas of Sjögren's disease by using unbiased RNA sequencing to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in peripheral blood and conjunctival transcriptomes, and to characterize the ocular surface and gut microbiome profiles in participants classified as Sjögren's versus non-Sjögren's disease.

methodsThis exploratory study used high-throughput RNA sequencing to analyze peripheral blood, conjunctival swabs, and rectal swabs from participants (11 classified as Sjögren's disease and four classified as non-Sjögren's) to identify DEGs and microbial profiles that could distinguish these groups.

resultsDifferential gene expression analysis revealed upregulated type I interferon ( IFI44L , OASL , USP18 ) and complement pathways ( SERPING1 ) in peripheral blood, alongside activation of several novel pathways in the conjunctiva including intracellular vesicle trafficking ( HIP1, GOLIM4, FIG4 ), immunometabolism ( CERS5, HPRT1, ULK2 ), and cytoskeletal remodeling ( MARK1, IQCB1) in Sjögren's disease. In addition, distinct gut microbiome compositions were observed in Sjögren's disease participants, characterized by an increased presence of Lactobacillus reuteri species.

conclusionsUsing unbiased RNA sequencing, we confirmed the role of type I interferon and complement pathways in the peripheral blood and identified novel molecular signatures in the conjunctiva of Sjögren's disease participants. These newly identified pathways-involved in intracellular vesicle trafficking, immunometabolism, and cytoskeletal remodeling-expand our understanding of disease mechanisms beyond traditional immune pathways. In addition, we found distinct gut microbial profiles in Sjögren's disease participants, although ocular surface microbiome showed no significant differences. Such findings may suggest possible new therapeutic targets and allow for Sjögren's disease patient stratification. However, validation in larger cohorts is needed to establish clinical significance and potential applications in Sjögren's disease.

Indexed as

ConjunctivaGastrointestinal MicrobiomeSjogren's SyndromeTranscriptomeAdultAgedFemaleGene Expression ProfilingHumansMaleMiddle AgedPilot ProjectsSequence Analysis, RNABlood transcriptomeConjunctival transcriptomeGut microbiomeOcular microbiomeSjögren's disease

Identifiers

PMID40314468
PMCPMC12178163

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.