# Roles of resident macrophages in salivary gland development, homeostasis, regeneration, and function restoration after radiotherapy

> **NIH NIH R01** · TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCE CTR · 2024 · $352,616

## Abstract

Project Summary
The long lasting decrease of saliva secretion, also called dry mouth, is common in patients
treated with radiotherapy for head and neck cancer. This side effect significantly impairs
the quality of life of affected patients and is difficult to remedy. The applicant’s recent work
revealed that macrophages abundant in salivary glands are sharply damaged by
radiotherapy, and their recovery is required for restoring saliva secretion. The goals of this
proposal are to determine the roles of local macrophages in the development,
maintenance and regeneration of salivary glands, and how these cells respond to radiation
and restore salivary function damaged by radiation. To achieve these goals, this project
will trace the origin of local macrophages under conditions mentioned above, determine
effects of removing these cells on salivary function, and pinpoint which molecules are
responsible for the damage of these cells by radiation and for the recovery of salivary
function damaged by radiation. Completion of this project will reveal vital roles of local
macrophages and their products in the maintenance of saliva secretion, and form a basis
for developing novel and feasible approaches to treating dry mouth caused by
radiotherapy.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10855758
- **Project number:** 5R01DE031478-04
- **Recipient organization:** TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCE CTR
- **Principal Investigator:** Fei Liu
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $352,616
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-09-20 → 2026-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10855758

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10855758, Roles of resident macrophages in salivary gland development, homeostasis, regeneration, and function restoration after radiotherapy (5R01DE031478-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-11 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10855758. Licensed CC0.

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