Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41863804›Full record

ArticleCell reports2026

IL-4 triggers salivary duct dilatation via SHH signaling and exacerbates Sjögren's disease.

Jingyi Zhang, Jing Zhang, Yanrong Zhao, Xueping Yang, Juanjuan Li, Weixian Chen, Xumeng Wang, Xiaoli Shi, Xu Chang, Qing Sun and 2 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Cell reports, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

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

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Molecular Insights into Oral Manifestations in Sjögren's Disease.International journal of molecular sciences · 2026
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Jingyi ZhangSchool of Stomatology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China; Academician Laboratory of Immune and Oral Development & Regeneration, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China.
Jing ZhangSchool of Stomatology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China; Academician Laboratory of Immune and Oral Development & Regeneration, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China.
Yanrong ZhaoSchool of Stomatology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China; Academician Laboratory of Immune and Oral Development & Regeneration, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China.
Xueping YangSchool of Stomatology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China; Academician Laboratory of Immune and Oral Development & Regeneration, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China.
Juanjuan LiSchool of Stomatology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China; Academician Laboratory of Immune and Oral Development & Regeneration, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China.
Weixian ChenSchool of Stomatology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China; Academician Laboratory of Immune and Oral Development & Regeneration, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China.
Xumeng WangSchool of Stomatology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China; Academician Laboratory of Immune and Oral Development & Regeneration, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China.
Xiaoli ShiSchool of Stomatology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China; Academician Laboratory of Immune and Oral Development & Regeneration, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China.
Xu ChangSchool of Stomatology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China; Academician Laboratory of Immune and Oral Development & Regeneration, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China.
Qing SunSchool of Stomatology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China; Academician Laboratory of Immune and Oral Development & Regeneration, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China.
Wanjun ChenMucosal Immunology Section, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA. Electronic address: wchen@mail.nih.gov.
Fu WangSchool of Stomatology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China; Academician Laboratory of Immune and Oral Development & Regeneration, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China; Stomatological Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China. Electronic address: fuwang@dmu.edu.cn.

Funding

Immunotherapy of inflammation, autoimmune disease and cancer ZIADE000737 · NIDCR · NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF DENTAL & CRANIOFACIAL RESEARCH · PI CHEN, WANJUN · 2021 to 2025
$3.8M
TGF-beta Regulation of Mucosal and Systemic T Cell Immunity and ToleranceZ01DE000101 · NIDCR · NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF DENTAL & CRANIOFACIAL RESEARCH · PI CHEN, WANJUN · 2004 to 2008
$2.0M
Intramural NIH HHS Z01 DE000101Intramural NIH HHS ZIA DE000737
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Primary Sjögren's disease (pSjD) is a chronic autoimmune disease. Clinically, sialography and lip gland biopsy in patients with pSjD show characteristic ductal dilations. However, the roles of the immune responses in ductal dilation remain unknown. We show that Th2 cells and their core cytokine IL-4 promote salivary duct dilatation in human and experimental SjD. Specifically, striated duct dilation is accompanied by periductal lymphocyte infiltration, which is correlated with increased IL-4 levels. In vivo, IL-4 neutralization reduced ductal dilation. Mechanistically, IL-4 induces the formation of cyst-like structures in cultured embryonic submandibular glands of mice. At the molecular level, IL-4 activates SHH signaling pathway in striated duct epithelial cells, upregulating SNAI1 and suppressing Cadherin 1 expression. This process disrupts interepithelial adhesion, leading to ductal dilation. Thus, IL-4 drives salivary gland ductal dilation that interferes with salivary gland function in SjD. Our findings should have implications for a potential therapeutic target in clinical pSjD.

Indexed as

CP: immunologyductal dilationIL-4SHH signaling pathwaySjDSjögren’s diseaseTh2

Identifiers

PMID41863804
PMCPMC13237753

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.