[Expression of SSA antigen epitopes in minor salivary glands from patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome].

Objective: To investigate the correlation between the differential expression of 60 000 SSA epitopes in minor salivary glands (MSG) from patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) and glandular inflammation.

Methods: The screening and soluble expression of single-chain fragment V monoclonal antibodies (Scfv McAb) against SSA antigen epitopes (P1: 480 - 494, P2: 310 - 323 and P3: 230 - 241) were performed by phagemid antibody expression system. The expression of epitopes was detected by immunohistochemical assay (IH) in minor salivary glands from these patients.

[Detection of anti-SSA/Ro antibody by ELISA, double immunodiffusion, and immunoblotting: a comparative study].

Objectives: To compare the specificity and sensitivity of ELISA, double immunodiffusion (ID), and immunoblotting (IB) in detection of anti-SSA/Ro antibodies in the sera of patients with connective tissue disease (CTD).

Methods: ELISA, double ID, and IB were used to detect the serum levels of anti-SSA/Ro antibodies in 7736 patients undergoing screening of CTD, 122 healthy blood donors, and 166 CTD patients positive in antinuclear antibody (ANA) and/or anti-extractable nuclear antigen (ENA).

Results: (1) The sera of the 122 healthy blood donors were all negative in anti-SSA/Ro antibodies by these three methods.