TACI-Fc gene therapy improves auto-immune sialadenitis but not salivary gland function in NOD mice

Objective Sjogren’s syndrome (SS) patients show aberrant expression of the B cell-related mediators B cell activating factor (BAFF) and a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) in serum and salivary glands (SGs). We studied the biological effect of neutralizing these cytokines by local gene transfer of the common receptor transmembrane activator and CAML interactor (TACI) in an animal model of SS.