The National Institutes of Health has awarded the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation $2.5 million to explore the connection between aging and Sjögren’s disease, an autoimmune condition.
OMRF scientist Umesh Deshmukh, Ph.D., received the five-year grant to study why pronounced symptoms of Sjögren’s often don’t begin until after age 40. The work will aid in the development of strategies to treat the condition.
“In many cases, the disease begins much earlier, but the symptoms are confined to mild routine dryness of the mouth or dry eyes, so people ignore them,” Deshmukh said. “Over time, symptoms become more prominent.”
Sjögren’s is a chronic disorder that happens when the immune system attacks the glands that produce fluids, like tears and saliva. In addition to profound fatigue and chronic pain, Sjögren’s can cause organ dysfunction, permanent vision problems and a higher risk of lymphoma.
The disease may affect up to 4 million Americans, according to the Sjögren’s Syndrome Foundation. Women comprise 9 out of 10 patients, and many are in middle age or past menopause when they are diagnosed. The cause is unknown, but researchers believe a combination of genetic, environmental and possibly hormonal factors trigger the disease. There is no known cure.
Deshmukh’s research will examine the connection between Sjögren’s and oxidative stress. This phenomenon occurs when there are too many unstable molecules called “free radicals” in the body and not enough antioxidants to get rid of them. As these free radicals increase, they cause cellular damage to other molecules and proteins they interact with.
Although Sjögren’s involves multiple glands, this study will focus on the salivary glands.
“We know that oxidative stress increases as we age,” Deshmukh said. “We want to understand whether that stress contributes to damage to the salivary glands, or if the damage to the glands is causing oxidative stress, or a cycle of both.”
Ultimately, Deshmukh said, understanding the mechanisms behind Sjögren’s will pave the way for new treatments for the disease.
“People with Sjögren’s may develop symptoms in nearly every organ, including joints, lungs and central nervous system, so Dr. Deshmukh’s research ultimately could have implications well beyond the salivary glands,” said OMRF Vice President of Clinical Affairs Judith James, M.D., Ph.D. “If his hypothesis is correct, our next step would be to evaluate the effects of antioxidants in reducing Sjögren’s symptoms.”
Deshmukh’s grant, issued by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, is 1R01DE032911-01.
