Background
Oral mucositis (OM) is a severe inflammation of the oral mucosal cells associated with chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy-induced toxicity, resulting in epithelial ulcers and higher risk of death from sepsis. The
Conclusions
AuNp (250 μg/kg) prevented 5-FU-induced OM in hamsters and improved the parameters of inflammation and oxidative stress.
Methods
5-fluorouracil (5FU) was used on the first and second day of the experimental model in Golden sirian hamsters, and on the fourth day, mechanical trauma was applied to induce OM. The animals were divided into groups, i.e., polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), mechanical trauma (MT), 5FU, and groups treated with gold nanoparticles (AuNps) (62.5, 125, and 250 μg/kg). On the 10th day, animals were euthanized for macroscopic, histopathological, immunohistochemical, western blot, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), and AuNp quantification.
Results
AuNp (250 μg/kg) reduced TNF-α, IL-1β, COX-2, NF-κB, TGF-β, and SMAD 2/3; increased glutathione levels; decreased the expression of Kelch ECH-associated protein 1 (KEAP1); and induced heme oxygenase 1 (HMOX-1) and NAD (P) H quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) genes. Conclusions: AuNp (250 μg/kg) prevented 5-FU-induced OM in hamsters and improved the parameters of inflammation and oxidative stress.