단국대 / 김진현, 정배권, 우승훈*
Abstract
Radiation therapy is a standard treatment for patients with head and neck cancer. However, radiation exposure to the head and neck induces salivary gland (SG) dysfunction. Alpha lipoic acid (ALA) has been reported to reduce radiation-induced toxicity in normal tissues. In this study, we investigated the effect of ALA on radiation-induced SG dysfunction. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to the following treatment groups: control, ALA only (100 mg/kg, intraperitoneally), irradiation only, and ALA administration 24 h or 30 min prior to irradiation. The neck area, including SGs, was irradiated evenly at 2 Gy/min (total dose, 18 Gy) using a photon 6 MV linear accelerator. The rats were sacrificed at 2, 6, 8, and 12 weeks after irradiation. Radiation decreased SG weight, saliva secretion, AQP5 expression, parasympathetic innervation (GFRα2 and AchE expression), regeneration potentials (Shh and Ptch expression), salivary trophic factor levels (brain-derived neurotrophic factor and neurturin), and stem cell expression (Sca-1). These features were restored by treatment with ALA. This study demonstrated that ALA can rescue radiation-induced hyposalivation by preserving parasympathetic innervation and regenerative potentials.
Author information
Kim JH1,2, Jeong BK2,3, Jang SJ1, Yun JW1, Jung MH1, Kang KM2,3, Kim TG4, Woo SH5.
1
Biomedical Research Institute, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Jinju 52727, Korea.
2
Institute of Health Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52727, Korea.
3
Department of Radiation Oncology, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52727, Korea.
4
Department of Radiation Oncology, Samsung Changwon Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Changwon 51353, Korea.
5
Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Dankook University, Cheonan 31116, Korea.