Increased Cathepsin S activity associated with decreased protease inhibitory capacity contributes to altered tear proteins in Sjögren’s Syndrome patients

Cathepsin S (CTSS) activity is elevated in Sjögren’s Syndrome (SS) patient tears. Here we tested whether protease inhibition and cystatin C (Cys C) levels are reduced in SS tears, which could lead to enhanced CTSS-driven degradation of tear proteins. CTSS activity against Cys C, LF and sIgA was tested in SS or healthy control tears. Tears from 156 female subjects (33, SS; 33, rheumatoid arthritis; 31, other autoimmune diseases; 35, non-autoimmune dry eye (DE); 24, healthy controls) were analyzed for CTSS activity and Cys C, LF, and sIgA levels. Cys C and LF showed enhanced degradation in SS tears supplemented with recombinant CTSS, but not supplemented healthy control tears. CTSS activity was significantly increased, while Cys C, LF and sIgA levels were significantly decreased, in SS tears compared to other groups. While tear CTSS activity remained the strongest discriminator of SS in autoimmune populations, combining LF and CTSS improved discrimination of SS beyond CTSS in DE patients. Reductions in Cys C and other endogenous proteases may enhance CTSS activity in SS tears. Tear CTSS activity is reconfirmed as a putative biomarker of SS in an independent patient cohort while combined LF and CTSS measurements may distinguish SS from DE patients.