Abstract

Ionizing radiation is one of the most common cancer treatments; however, the treatment leads to a wide range of debilitating side effects. In patients with head and neck cancer (HNC), the surrounding normal salivary gland is extremely sensitive to therapeutic radiation, and damage to this tissue results in various oral complications and decreased quality of life (QOL). In the current study, mice treated with targeted head and neck radiation showed a significant increase in double-stranded breaks (DSB) in the DNA of parotid salivary gland cells immediately after treatment, and this remained elevated 3 h posttreatment. In contrast, mice pretreated with insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) showed resolution of the same amount of initial DNA damage by 3 h posttreatment. At acute time points (30 min to 2 h), irradiated parotid glands had significantly decreased levels of the histone deactylase Sirtuin-1 (SirT-1) which has been previously shown to function in DNA repair. Pretreatment with IGF-1 increased SirT-1 protein levels and increased deacetylation of SirT-1 targets involved in DNA repair. Pharmacological inhibition of SirT-1 activity decreased the IGF-1–mediated resolution of DSB. These data suggest that IGF-1 promotes DNA repair in irradiated parotid glands through the maintenance and activation of SirT-1.

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.