Elevated proapoptotic Bax and caspase 3 activation in the NOD.scid model of Sj�gren's syndrome

Abstract

These results demonstrate that salivary gland epithelial cells in NOD and NOD.scid mice overexpress the proapoptotic molecules Bax and caspase 3. Bax could be the gene responsible for initiation of caspase activation, epithelial cell destruction, and lymphocyte glandular localization in SS.