Table 1 Current and prospective therapies for salivary gland dysfunction
From: Autologous mesenchymal stem cells offer a new paradigm for salivary gland regeneration
Treatment modality | Specific approaches or methods | Known limitations |
|---|---|---|
Palliative (Symptomatic relief) | Saliva substitutes Nutritional counseling | Effectiveness is limited & short-term Oral tissues continue to display deleterious changes Patient compliance is highly variable |
Pharmacologic | Sialogogues Immunomodulatory drugs | Effects are systemic Multiple doses/day required Interact with other drugs Patient compliance is highly variable |
Gene Therapy | Adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) Oligonucleotides Plasmids | Effect depends on the extent of gland damage Effect can be ablated by immune response Response to treatment is often of limited duration |
Cell-based therapies | Salivary gland progenitors Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) | Treatment must be optimized (cell type, route of administration, dose, etc) Cells must engraft and survive for ongoing effect Mechanisms of action are diverse |
