Photobiomodulation for prevention and treatment of 131I-mediated sialadenitis and xerostomia: Monte Carlo simulation and in vivo study

• Grant number: 23/03299-9
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: August 01, 2023
• End date: October 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Dentistry
• Principal Investigator: Luciana Corrêa
• Grantee: Luciana Corrêa
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Odontologia (FO). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Regina Celia Gorni Carneiro ; Sofia Nascimento dos Santos

Abstract

Radiopharmaceutical drugs applied to neoplasms and autoimmune diseases can generate important side effects in the stomatognathic system, mainly sialadenitis that lead to transitory and sometimes permanent xerostomia. There are no effective protocols for the prevention and treatment of salivary gland alterations resulting from these therapies. The efficacy of photobiomodulation (PBM) for minimizing the xerostomia in irradiated patients is controversial due to the lack of studies addressing the dosimetry applied for FBM protocols in the region of major salivary glands. The aim of this study is to develop an experimental model of sialadenitis derived from iodine-131 therapy in rats, and to verify the effectiveness of FBM in the prevention and treatment of sialadenitis and xerostomia. Mathematical simulations involving Monte Carlo models will be conducted to establish the FBM dosimetry that generates greater absorption and scattering in the salivary glands. For this, anatomical variations and optical properties of the involved tissues will be considered. Salivary flow and molecular markers indicative of the regeneration process after iodine-131 damage in the salivary glands (TUNEL, CK5, CK7, MIST1, NKCC1, aquaporin 5, SSI and Ki-67) will be evaluated by means of biochemistry and immunohistochemistry assays. It is expected to better understand the pathogenesis of iodine-131 toxicity and to propose a new modality for the prevention and treatment of sialadenitis and xerostomia using FBM. (AU)