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Radiation apoptosis of serous acinar cells of salivary and lacrimal glands
Author(s) -
Stephens L. Clifton,
Schultheiss Timothy E.,
Price Roger E.,
Ang K. Kian,
Peters Lester J.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(19910315)67:6<1539::aid-cncr2820670613>3.0.co;2-q
Subject(s) - serous fluid , medicine , pathology , tears , saliva , programmed cell death , radiation therapy , acinar cell , salivary gland , apoptosis , lacrimal gland , lacrimal apparatus , biology , immunology , pancreas , biochemistry
Xerostomia and xerophthalmia are common and potentially serious local side effects of radiotherapy for head and neck cancer. Clinical observations supported by experimental findings show that radiation, even in low doses, causes acute diminutions of saliva and tears by rapidly killing the serous cells of the salivary and lacrimal glands, respectively. Serous acini of salivary and lacrimal glands have similar developmental, morphologic, and functional characteristics. Serous acinar cells are functionally mature, secretory epithelial cells that normally do not divide and are long lived. Irradiation of the salivary and lacrimal glands of rhesus monkeys resulted in selective death of serous acinar cells within 24 hours. The paradigm for acute radiation seroadenosis is intermitotic or interphase cell death caused by apoptosis.