Application of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor antibody restores the function of saliva secretion in a type 2 diabetes mouse model
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Updated: May 6, 2026
Cannulation of the Mouse Submandibular Salivary Gland via the Wharton's Duct
Published on: May 14, 2011
Yusuke Takahashi1, Takashi Munemasa1, Tomotaka Nodai1
1Division of Oral Reconstruction and Rehabilitation, Kyushu Dental University, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, 803-8580, Japan.
Objectives:
Xerostomia, a common complication of type 2 diabetes, leads to an increased risk of caries, dysphagia, and dysgeusia. Although anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) antibodies, such as ranibizumab (RBZ), have been used to treat diabetic retinopathy, their effects on the salivary glands are unknown. This study evaluated the effects of RBZ on salivary glands to reduce inflammation and restore salivary function in a mouse model of type 2 diabetes.
Methods:
Male KK-Ay mice with type 2 diabetes (10-12 weeks old) were used. The diabetes mellitus (DM) group received phosphate-buffered saline, while the DM + RBZ group received an intraperitoneal administration of RBZ (100 μg/kg) 24 h before the experiment.
Results:
Ex vivo perfusion experiments showed a substantial increase in salivary secretion from the submandibular gland (SMG) in the DM + RBZ group. In addition, the mRNA expression levels of TNF-α and IL-1β were considerably lower in this group. In contrast, those of aquaporin 5 were substantially higher in the DM + RBZ group, as revealed by quantitative reverse transcription PCR. Furthermore, the number of lymphocyte infiltration spots in the SMG was notably lower in the DM + RBZ group. Finally, intracellular Ca2+ signaling in acinar cells was considerably higher in the DM + RBZ group than that in the DM group.
Conclusion:
Treating a type 2 diabetic mouse model with RBZ restored salivary secretion through its anti-inflammatory effects.
