Abstract:
Radiotherapy and chemotherapy can impair salivary gland (SG) function, which causes xerostomia and exacerbate other side effects of chemotherapy and oral infection, reducing patients\' quality of life. This animal study aimed to assess the efficacy of electroacupuncture (EA) as a means of preventing xerostomia induced by 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). A xerostomia mouse model was induced via four tail vein injections of 5-FU (80 mg/kg/dose). EA was performed at LI4 and LI11 for 7 days. The pilocarpine-stimulated salivary flow rate (SFR) and salivary glands weight (SGW) were recorded. Salivary immunoglobulin A (SIgA) and lysozyme were determined via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). SG was collected for hematoxylin and eosin staining to measure acini number and acinar cell size. Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and aquaporin 5 (AQP5) mRNA expressions in SG were quantified via RT-qPCR. 5-FU caused significant decreases in SFR, SGW, SIgA, lysozyme, AQP5 expression, and acini number, while TNF-α and IL-1β expressions and acinar cell size were significantly increased. EA treatment can prevent 5-FU damage to the salivary gland, while pilocarpine treatment can only elevate SFR and AQP5 expression. These findings provide significant evidence to support the use of EA as an alternative treatment for chemotherapy-induced salivary gland hypofunction and xerostomia.
摘要:
放疗和化疗会损害唾液腺(SG)功能,这会导致口干症并加剧化疗和口腔感染的其他副作用,降低患者的生活质量。这项动物研究旨在评估电针(EA)作为预防5-氟尿嘧啶(5-FU)引起的口干症的方法的功效。通过四次尾静脉注射5-FU(80mg/kg/剂量)来诱导口干症小鼠模型。EA在LI4和LI11进行7天。记录毛果芸香碱刺激的唾液流速(SFR)和唾液腺重量(SGW)。通过酶联免疫吸附测定(ELISA)测定唾液免疫球蛋白A(SIgA)和溶菌酶。收集SG进行苏木精和曙红染色以测量腺泡数量和腺泡细胞大小。肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α),白细胞介素-1β(IL-1β),通过RT-qPCR定量SG中的水通道蛋白5(AQP5)mRNA表达。5-FU导致SFR显著下降,SGW,SIgA,溶菌酶,AQP5表达,和腺泡号,而TNF-α和IL-1β的表达和腺泡细胞大小显著增加。EA治疗可以防止5-FU对唾液腺的损害,而毛果芸香碱治疗只能提高SFR和AQP5的表达。这些发现为支持使用EA作为化疗引起的唾液腺功能减退和口干症的替代疗法提供了重要证据。