Ascorbic acid induces salivary gland function through TET2/acetylcholine receptor signaling in aging SAMP1/Klotho (-/-) mice

Aging affects salivary gland function and alters saliva production and excretion. This study aimed to investigate whether ascorbic acid can be used to treat salivary gland dysfunction in an extensive aging mouse model of SAMP1/Klotho-/- mice. In our previous study, we found that ascorbic acid biosynthesis was disrupted in the salivary glands of SAMP1/Klotho (-/-) mice subjected to metabolomic profiling analysis. In SAMP1/Klotho -/- mice, daily supplementation with ascorbic acid (100 mg/kg for 18 days) significantly increased saliva secretion compared with the control. The expression of salivary gland functional markers (α-amylase, ZO-1, and Aqua5) is upregulated. Additionally, acetylcholine and/or beta-adrenergic receptors (M1AchR, M3AchR, and Adrb1) were increased by ascorbic acid in the salivary glands of aging mice, and treatment with ascorbic acid upregulated the expression of acetylcholine receptors through the DNA demethylation protein TET2. These results suggest that ascorbic acid could overcome the lack caused by dysfunction of ascorbic acid biosynthesis and induce the recovery of salivary gland function.