2026 年 35 巻 2 号 p. 87-94
The accumulation of senescent cells leads to the release of senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) factors that promote inflammation and fibrosis, thereby contributing to the development of age-related disorders. In particular, the age-related decline in salivary gland function causes xerostomia in the elderly, which severely impairs oral hygiene and overall quality of life; however, effective treatments remain unavailable. Human dental pulp stem cells-conditioned medium (hDPSC-CM), which contains anti-inflammatory cytokines and growth factors, has recently attracted attention as a potential anti-aging therapy. In this study, 250 μL of hDPSC-CM was intraperitoneally administered to 79 weeks of age male C57BL/6J mice twice weekly for 4 weeks. Salivary flow, histological alterations, cytokine array profiles, and gene and protein expression levels were evaluated using quantitative real-time PCR and Western blotting. hDPSC-CM treatment significantly increased salivary flow, reduced lymphocytic infiltration, and decreased the expression of aging markers (e.g., p16Ink4a and p21) and SASP factors. In contrast, the expression of functional markers, stem/progenitor markers, and anti-inflammatory cytokines significantly increased. Consequently, systemic administration of hDPSC-CM may restrain cellular senescence and SASP factor expression, exert anti-inflammatory effects, and promote tissue regeneration and functional recovery in the submandibular glands of aged mice. Therefore, hDPSC-CM may serve as a promising therapeutic approach for age-related salivary gland dysfunction.
