Oxidative Stress in Salivary Gland Function
Summary
Oxidative stress arises when the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) exceeds the capacity of intrinsic antioxidant defences, leading to damage of lipids, proteins and nucleic acids. In salivary glands, this imbalance not only alters glandular architecture and mitochondrial function but also impairs both unstimulated and stimulated saliva secretion. Saliva contains a complex array of enzymatic antioxidants (for example superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase) and non-enzymatic antioxidants (such as uric acid and reduced glutathione) that together maintain a protective redox balance. Disruption of that balance is implicated in a range of systemic and local disorders, from metabolic syndrome and diabetes to neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases. Oxidative damage within salivary tissues can manifest as reduced flow rate, altered protein synthesis and increased permeability of acinar cells. Such changes compromise oral lubrication, digestive enzyme activity and mucosal defence, and may exacerbate oral inflammatory conditions. Growing attention is being devoted to understanding the precise molecular pathways by which ROS accumulation affects glandular secretory mechanisms, and to developing antioxidant therapies or nutritional interventions that could preserve or restore salivary gland function in health and disease.
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Oxidative Stress in Salivary Gland Function publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in oxidative stress in salivary gland function across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Reactive oxygen species (ROS): Chemically reactive molecules derived from oxygen that can damage cellular components.
Antioxidant enzymes: Endogenous proteins (e.g. superoxide dismutase, catalase) that neutralise ROS and protect tissues.
Redox homeostasis: The dynamic balance between oxidant production and antioxidant defences within biological systems.
Salivary flow rate: The volume of saliva produced over time, indicative of secretory gland function.
Mitochondrial respiratory complexes: Protein assemblies in mitochondria that generate cellular energy and whose dysfunction can enhance ROS formation.
Advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP): Oxidatively modified proteins serving as biomarkers of oxidative damage.
References
- Salivary Antioxidant Barrier, Redox Status, and Oxidative Damage to Proteins and Lipids in Healthy Children, Adults, and the Elderly. Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity (2019).
- Oxidative Modification in the Salivary Glands of High Fat-Diet Induced Insulin Resistant Rats. Frontiers in Physiology (2017).
- Effect of N‐Acetylcysteine on Antioxidant Defense, Oxidative Modification, and Salivary Gland Function in a Rat Model of Insulin Resistance. Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity (2018).
- Salivary Oxidative Stress Increases with the Progression of Chronic Heart Failure. Journal of Clinical Medicine (2020).
- Dysfunction of Salivary Glands, Disturbances in Salivary Antioxidants and Increased Oxidative Damage in Saliva of Overweight and Obese Adolescents. Journal of Clinical Medicine (2020).
- The Impact of High‐Fat Diet on Mitochondrial Function, Free Radical Production, and Nitrosative Stress in the Salivary Glands of Wistar Rats. Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity (2019).
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