CERE-120 Prevents Irradiation-Induced Hypofunction and Restores Immune Homeostasis in Porcine Salivary Glands.

ABSTRACT: Salivary gland hypofunction causes significant morbidity and loss of quality of life for head and neck cancer patients treated with radiotherapy. Preventing hypofunction is an unmet therapeutic need. We used an adeno-associated virus serotype 2 (AAV2) vector expressing the human neurotrophic factor neurturin (CERE-120) to treat murine submandibular glands either pre- or post-irradiation (IR). Treatment with CERE-120 pre-IR, not post-IR, prevented hypofunction. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis showed reduced gene expression associated with fibrosis and the innate and humoral immune responses. We then used a minipig model with CERE-120 treatment pre-IR and also compared outcomes of the contralateral non-IR gland. Analysis of gene expression, morphology, and immunostaining showed reduced IR-

SUBMITTER: Lombaert IMA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7479444 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature