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Cytoprotective effects of opioids on irradiated oral epithelial cells

Item Type:Article
Title:Cytoprotective effects of opioids on irradiated oral epithelial cells
Creators Name:Charbaji, N., Rosenthal, P., Schäfer-Korting, M. and Küchler, S.
Abstract:Oral mucositis is a common side effect of chemotherapy and radiation therapy accompanied with acute inflammation and ulceration of the oral mucosa. Opioids can improve the wound healing of dermal and oral tissue when applied locally. The aim of this study was to investigate if morphine exhibits cytoprotective effects on oral epithelial cells postirradiation. Hence, oral epithelial cells were exposed to increasing doses (3–30 Gy) of ionization radiation. We assessed the effects of the radiation on cell viability, proinflammatory cytokine release (interleukin [IL]-1α, IL-6), and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-1, -8, and -9) expression. As expected, radiation significantly impaired cell viability and morphology and resulted in enhanced IL release. However, morphine-treated cells consistently showed higher cell viability postirradiation: 9.19 ± 1.16% after 24 hours and 7.45 ± 0.93% after 48 hours compared with the control. In terms of proinflammatory cytokines, the release of IL-1α and IL-6 was significantly reduced, too, being most pronounced at 48 hours postradiation. Additionally, we observed a significant reduction of MMP-1 and especially MMP-9 expression in morphine-treated cells. The results clearly indicate anti-inflammatory as well as cytoprotective effects of morphine on irradiated oral epithelial cells. Interestingly, the protective effects of morphine are not related to a decrease in cell apoptosis or necrosis. Before final conclusions can be drawn, further studies in more complex systems in vitro and in vivo are required. Nevertheless, these findings further underline the high potential of opioids for the treatment of topical wounds and inflammatory conditions.
Keywords:Cell Line, Cell Proliferation, Cell Survival, Epithelial Cells, Interleukin-6, Matrix Metalloproteinase 1, Matrix Metalloproteinase 9, Morphine, Mouth Mucosa, Opioid Analgesics, Opioid Receptors, Signal Transduction, Stomatitis, Treatment Outcome, Wound Healing
Source:Wound Repair and Regeneration
ISSN:1524-475X
Publisher:Wiley-Blackwell / Wound Healing Society
Volume:21
Number:6
Page Range:883-889
Date:December 2013
Official Publication:https://doi.org/10.1111/wrr.12115
PubMed:View item in PubMed

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