Fibrinogen-like protein-1 (FGL-1) may play a key role in the onset of autoimmunity by suppressing T cell activation in primary Sjögren disease, according to findings from Otsuka et al. Their study, which examined the influence of interorgan communication on disease pathogenesis in mice models and patients with primary Sjögren disease, may help facilitate novel diagnostic or therapeutic strategies targeting immune checkpoint molecules in autoimmune diseases.