Salivary antioxidant enzymes associated with oral toxicity in haematopoietic cell transplantation: An observational study

• Published in: European journal of clinical investigation Vol. 51; no. 2; pp. e13379 - n/a
• Main Authors: Bezinelli, Letícia Mello, Eduardo, Fernanda de Paula, Ferreira, Mariana Henriques, Gobbi, Marcella, Lopes, Roberta M. G., Rosin, Flavia C. P., Vogel, Cristina, Hamerschlak, Nelson, Corrêa, Luciana
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01-02-2021
• Subjects: Antioxidants; Autografts; Catalase; Conditioning; Enzymes; Glutathione; Glutathione reductase; haematopoietic cell transplantation; Mucositis; Neutropenia; Observational studies; oral mucositis; Oxidation; Oxidative stress; Proteins; Reductases; Saliva; salivary catalase; salivary glutathione reductase; salivary superoxide dismutase; Superoxide dismutase; Toxicity; Transplantation; Xerostomia; oral mucositis; salivary glutathione reductase; salivary superoxide dismutase; haematopoietic cell transplantation; xerostomia; salivary catalase
• ISSN: 0014-2972; 1365-2362
• DOI: 10.1111/eci.13379

Background
In haematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT), oral mucositis and xerostomia are related to conditioning‐related oxidative stress. The role of salivary antioxidant enzymes in oral toxicity is poorly described. The aim of this study was to verify the association between salivary antioxidant enzymes and oral mucositis and xerostomia in HCT.
Design
Saliva from autologous and allogeneic HCT patients (n = 77) was selected before conditioning (T0), during the neutropenia period (T1) and after marrow engraftment (T2). Salivary flow, total salivary proteins, and superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione reductase activities were measured.
Results
There were no significant differences in salivary flow, total salivary proteins and catalase at the three HCT time points. Glutathione reductase levels were reduced at T1 compared to T0 (P = .013) and T2 (P = .001). Superoxide dismutase levels were increased from T0 to T2 (P = .013). Neither of these enzymes was associated with oral mucositis. Increased superoxide dismutase levels were associated with xerostomia frequency. Levels of this enzyme also showed significant correlation with days of xerostomia in T2 (ρ = .40, P = .002).
Conclusions
Salivary antioxidant enzymes changed before and during early periods after HCT. The increase in salivary superoxide dismutase suggested partial activation of the salivary antioxidant system and was associated with xerostomia.