Route of Application and Dose Evaluation of Dental Pulp Stem Cells for the Treatment of Sialadenitis Caused by Sjögren's Syndrome: A Preclinical Study.

Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by sicca syndrome and/or systemic manifestations. In this study, non-obese diabetic () mice were used as an animal model for studying SS, to evaluate the optimal administration route and dose range of dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) in the treatment of sialadenitis caused by SS. Different doses of DPSCs were transplanted into the submandibular glands (SMGs) of 14-week-old mice through two different methods: injection or retrograde perfusion through the catheter orifice into the SMG. At 21 weeks of age, the saliva flow rate (SFR), ectopic lymphocytes, and CD4 T-cell infiltration were measured. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) in the glandular tissues were also quantitatively detected. Compared with untreated and PBS-injected controls, different-dose groups of the two administration methods showed an increased saliva flow rate of mice to varying degrees, reduced infiltration of lymphocytes and CD4 T cells in the SMG, and decreased IFN-γ/TNF-α levels. Finally, we compared these two administration routes and found that the perfusion of 2 × 10 DPSCs presents good therapeutic effects. DPSC perfusion through the catheter orifice is a simple and effective treatment method, which is worthy of further investigation through clinical trials.