Salivary gland organoids and the future of modeling autoimmune epithelitis in Sjögren’s disease

Abstract

Sjögren's disease (SjD) is a systemic autoimmune disorder characterized by a striking tropism for epithelial tissues, particularly the salivary and lacrimal glands. Lack of function of the salivary glands (SGs) leads to a panoply of symptoms, dramatically reducing patient quality of life. Over the past decades, research has established that the ductal epithelium is not merely a structural component but rather a central player in the immunopathology of the SG in SjD. The aim of this review is to briefly reassess the evidence supporting the role of SG epithelium in the pathogenesis of the disease and to highlight how the development of new epithelial models of the salivary glands, namely organoids, may pave the way for novel research avenues and personalized therapeutic strategies.