A novel experimental approach for In Vivo analyses of the salivary gland microvasculature and saliva production upon gamma radiotherapy

Introduction Xerostomia upon gamma radiotherapy in the head neck region considerably reduces the patient"s quality of life. Microvascular dysfunction is a fundamental process in the pathogenesis of radiation-induced sialadenitis. Hence, preserving and restoring the integrity of the microcirculation might represent a promising therapeutic strategy for this pathology. The underlying mechanisms, however, remain poorly understood, partly due to the unavailability of adequate in vivo models.

Material & Methods Employing different technical approaches such as multiphoton in vivo microscopy, confocal microscopy, and flow cytometry, we analyzed saliva production, markers of tissue damage and fibrosis, inflammatory mediators, immune cell infiltration, as well as microvascular permeability in the salivary glands of mice upon gamma irradiation.

Results Gamma irradiation of submandibular glands induced the elevation of tissue damage markers as well as longer-term of tissue fibrosis and reduction of saliva production. These processes were associated with immune cell infiltration and enhanced microvascular permeability.

Conclusions We established a novel experimental in vivo approach that enables us to examine functional parameters as well as essential microvascular processes in the salivary gland upon gamma irradiation on a cellular and molecular level. This model allows us to identify specific pathogenetic factors as novel therapeutic targets in radiation-induced sialadenitis.

This study is supported by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (SFB 914).

 

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Publication History

Article published online:
19 April 2024