Post-operative supplementation with vitamin D after mucogingival surgery significantly enhances autophagy and improves life quality following feline chronic gingivostomatitis

Oral mucositis is a complex inflammatory and ulcerative condition frequently associated with a heightened risk of infections, malnutrition and diminished quality of life in both humans and animals. Despite the availability of various preventive and therapeutic interventions, their overall efficacy remains unclear. Considering that vitamin D exhibits pronounced anti-inflammatory properties by modulating autophagic pathways via activation of the vitamin D receptor (VDR), the present study aims to determine whether supplementation with vitamin D after the mucogingival replacement surgery (MGRS) would effectively enhance autophagy, and therefore, protect the integrity of mucosal lining in cases of severe oral mucositis. Adult domestic cats suffered from feline chronic gingivostomatitis and undergoing MGRS were used in this study. After MGRS, experimental cats were orally administered either fat-soluble or water-soluble vitamin D at a dose of 200 ng/kg twice daily for 6 weeks. Quantitative analysis revealed that in cats with oral mucositis and received MGRS, post-operative supplementation of both types of vitamin D greatly improved the quality of life and increased the anti-inflammatory reactivity. Moreover, both types of vitamin D considerably enhanced the expression of VDR and light chain 3B (LC3B, a biochemical marker for autophagy) within the affected tissues, with the most notable change observed in cats that received fat-soluble vitamin D. Based on these findings, incorporating vitamin D into the post-operative care regimens may enhance the therapeutic efficacy of surgical interventions targeting severe mucosal injury. This strategy may also hold a novel promise for improving the overall management of oral mucositis and associated complications.