Vitamin C Mitigates Radiation-Induced Parotid Glands Inflammation by Downregulating TNF-α and IL-1β Expression in Guinea Pigs

Ansari, Amir Ahmad; Razzak, Zaid Abdul; Bari, Muhammad Furqan; Khan, Lubna; Amir, Quratulain; Ashraf, Armeen; Kamran, Mahrukh; Ashraf, Ajia; Haque, Zeba; Hanif, Farina

doi:10.30476/mejc.2026.105034.2219

Vitamin C Mitigates Radiation-Induced Parotid Glands Inflammation by Downregulating TNF-α and IL-1β Expression in Guinea Pigs

Document Type : Original Article(s)

Authors

Amir Ahmad Ansari ¹

Zaid Abdul Razzak ²

Muhammad Furqan Bari ³

Lubna Khan ⁴

Quratulain Amir ⁵^{, 6}

Armeen Ashraf ⁷

Mahrukh Kamran ¹

Ajia Ashraf ⁷

Zeba Haque ⁸

Farina Hanif ⁸

¹ Department of Anatomy, Dow International Medical College, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan

² Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan

³ Department of Pathology, Dow International Medical College, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan

⁴ Department of Biotechnology, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan

⁵ Dow Institute of Medical Technology, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan

⁶ Department of Physiology, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan

⁷ Dow International Medical College, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan

⁸ Department of Biochemistry, Dow International Medical College, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan

https://doi.org/10.30476/mejc.2026.105034.2219

Abstract

Background: Radiation therapy damages surrounding tissues, with parotid glands being highly vulnerable in the head and neck region. Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of vitamin C may reduce radiation-induced injury. This study therefore investigated the impact of vitamin C on morphological and histological changes in guinea pig parotid glands and its impact on tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) expression.
Method: 48 Dunkin Hartley guinea pigs (6-8 months, both sexes) were divided into four groups: control, vitamin C (3 mg/kg), radiation 8 Grays (Gys), and radiation + vitamin C. Animals were treated with radiation and/or vitamin C for 15 days on alternate days. Weight and saliva volume were measured on alternate days too. Parotid glands were extracted for histological and immunohistochemical analysis of TNF-α and IL-1β. Data were analyzed using SPSS (version 21) and presented as mean ± standard error of mean. One-way ANOVA with Bonferroni’s post hoc test was applied, with P < 0.05 considered significant.
Results: Over 15 days, no significant differences in animal weight were observed (P > 0.05). However, a significant reduction in saliva production occurred in the radiation group, alleviated by vitamin C (P < 0.05). Histological analysis showed radiation-induced inflammation in the parotid glands, which was diminished by vitamin C. Immunohistochemistry revealed a significant increase in TNF-α and IL-1β expression in the radiation group (P < 0.001), with vitamin C significantly downregulating both markers in the radiation + vitamin C group (P < 0.001).
Conclusion: Vitamin C may protect against radiation-induced parotid gland inflammation by downregulating TNF-α and IL-1β, suggesting its potential as a therapy for radiation-induced tissue injury.

Highlights

Muhammad Furqan Bari (google scholar)

Zeba Haque (google scholar)

Keywords

Parotid glands

Radiation

Vitamin C

TNF α

IL-1β

Subjects

Cancer Treatment

How to cite this article:

Ansari AA, Razzak ZA, Bari MF, Khan L, Amir Q, Ashraf A, et al. Vitamin C mitigates radiation-induced parotid glands inflammation by downregulating TNF-α and IL-1β expression in guinea pigs. Middle East J Cancer. 2026; 17(2): 116-27. doi: 10.30476/mejc.2026.105034.2219

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