Open AccessPrevention of irradiation-induced salivary hypofunction by rapamycin in swine parotid glands
Author(s) -
Zhenxin Zhu,
Baoxing Pang,
Ramiro IglesiasBartolome,
Xiaoshan Wu,
Lei Hu,
Chunmei Zhang,
Jinsong Wang,
J. Silvio Gutkind,
Songlin Wang
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
oncotarget
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.373
H-Index - 127
ISSN - 1949-2553
DOI - 10.18632/oncotarget.7941
Subject(s) - pi3k/akt/mtor pathway , medicine , salivary gland , craniofacial , cancer , radiation therapy , cancer research , biology , apoptosis , biochemistry , psychiatry
Radiotherapy is commonly used in patients with oral cavity and pharyngeal cancers, usually resulting in irreversible salivary hypofunction. Currently management of radiation damage to salivary glands still remains a great challenge. Recent studies show that activation of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) occurs in salivary gland lesions, making it possible to apply mTOR inhibitor for treatment. Our results indicate inhibition of mTOR by rapamycin significantly alleviated irradiation-induced salivary hypofunction by restoring 46% salivary flow rate and protecting histological structures in swine. Furthermore, rapamycin protected human submandibular gland cell line (HSG) from irradiation-induced cell depletion and loss of cell proliferation capacity. These findings lay the foundation for a new clinical application of rapamycin to prevent irradiation-induced salivary hypofunction.