Intraglandular Transplantation of Adipose-Derived Stem Cells for the Alleviation of Irradiation-Induced Parotid Gland Damage in Miniature Pigs.
OBJECTIVE
In a previous study, the authors verified the protective efficacy of adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) on the prevention of salivary gland (SG) damage induced by irradiation in mice. As a critical step before implementation in clinical practice, the present study investigated the protective effect of ADSCs in a miniature pig SG model, because miniature pigs share many characteristics with humans.


METHODS
Third-passage autologous ADSCs at a concentration of 4 × 106cells/mL were transplanted by intraglandular injection into parotid glands (PGs) immediately after local irradiation at a single dose of 20 Gy. The injection process was repeated twice a week for 6 consecutive weeks. At 12 weeks after irradiation, functional and histologic evaluations were performed by measuring salivary flow rate (SFR) and hematoxylin and eosin and periodic acid-Schiff staining. Immunohistochemical and transmission electron microscopic examinations also were conducted to evaluate amylase (AMY) production, microvessel density (MVD), and microstructural changes.


RESULTS
The irradiated PGs showed remarkable decreases in SFR, AMY production, and MVD. However, transplantation of ADSCs alleviated irradiated PG morphology and function by preserving more functional acinar cells and increasing SFR and AMY production. In addition, greater MVD was observed in the ADSC-treated group than in the irradiated group.


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicated that intraglandular transplantation of autologous ADSCs is an effective method to protect PGs against damage from irradiation in miniature pigs, which might have clinic application in the future.
Lecturer, State Key Laboratory of Military Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Stomatology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an; Lecturer, Department of Stomatology, Guangzhou General Hospital of Guangzhou Command, Guangzhou, China.
Zhifa
Z
Wang
Lecturer, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Clinical Medical College of Jiujiang University, Jiujiang, China.
Zhaoyu
Z
Ju
Lecturer, Department of Implant Clinic, Stomatology Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China.
Longlong
L
He
Lecturer, State Key Laboratory of Military Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Stomatology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
Zhijin
Z
Li
Professor, State Key Laboratory of Military Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Stomatology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
Yanpu
Y
Liu
Professor, State Key Laboratory of Military Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Laboratory Animal Center, School of Stomatology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China. Electronic address: kqomsliu@163.com.
Bin
B
Liu
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000166:cytology* / Q000473:pathology; D000681:Amylases / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D007267:Injections; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D010306:Parotid Gland / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects* / Q000601:surgery*; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000601:surgery*; D012472:Salivation / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D013552:Swine; D013556:Swine, Miniature; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000681:Amylases