Photobiomodulation with a 660-Nanometer Light-Emitting Diode Promotes Cell Proliferation in Astrocyte Culture

Electromagnetic Modulation of Cell Behavior: Unraveling the Positive Impacts in a Comprehensive Review

There are numerous effective procedures for cell signaling, in which humans directly transmit detectable signals to cells to govern their essential behaviors. From a biomedical perspective, the cellular response to the combined influence of electrical and magnetic fields holds significant promise in various domains, such as cancer treatment, targeted drug delivery, gene therapy, and wound healing. Among these modern cell signaling methods, electromagnetic fields (EMFs) play a pivotal role; however, there remains a paucity of knowledge concerning the effects of EMFs across all wavelengths. It's worth noting that most wavelengths are incompatible with human cells, and as such, this study excludes them from consideration. In this review, we aim to comprehensively explore the most effective and current EMFs, along with their therapeutic impacts on various cell types. Specifically, we delve into the influence of alternating electromagnetic fields (AEMFs) on diverse cell behaviors, encompassing proliferation, differentiation, biomineralization, cell death, and cell migration. Our findings underscore the substantial potential of these pivotal cellular behaviors in advancing the treatment of numerous diseases. Moreover, AEMFs wield a significant role in the realms of biomaterials and tissue engineering, given their capacity to decisively influence biomaterials, facilitate non-invasive procedures, ensure biocompatibility, and exhibit substantial efficacy. It is worth mentioning that AEMFs often serve as a last-resort treatment option for various diseases. Much about electromagnetic fields remains a mystery to the scientific community, and we have yet to unravel the precise mechanisms through which wavelengths control cellular fate. Consequently, our understanding and knowledge in this domain predominantly stem from repeated experiments yielding similar effects. In the ensuing sections of this article, we delve deeper into our extended experiments and research.

Photobiomodulation for Neurodegenerative Diseases: A Scoping Review

Neurodegenerative diseases involve the progressive dysfunction and loss of neurons in the central nervous system and thus present a significant challenge due to the absence of effective therapies for halting or reversing their progression. Based on the characteristics of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD), which have prolonged incubation periods and protracted courses, exploring non-invasive physical therapy methods is essential for alleviating such diseases and ensuring that patients have an improved quality of life. Photobiomodulation (PBM) uses red and infrared light for therapeutic benefits and functions by stimulating, healing, regenerating, and protecting organizations at risk of injury, degradation, or death. Over the last two decades, PBM has gained widespread recognition as a non-invasive physical therapy method, showing efficacy in pain relief, anti-inflammatory responses, and tissue regeneration. Its application has expanded into the fields of neurology and psychiatry, where extensive research has been conducted. This paper presents a review and evaluation of studies investigating PBM in neurodegenerative diseases, with a specific emphasis on recent applications in AD and PD treatment for both animal and human subjects. Molecular mechanisms related to neuron damage and cognitive impairment are scrutinized, offering valuable insights into PBM's potential as a non-invasive therapeutic strategy.

The Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Multi-Wavelength Light-Emitting Diode Irradiation Attenuates Dry Eye Symptoms in a Scopolamine-Induced Mouse Model of Dry Eye

Dry eye disease is a common condition in patients of all ages, causing discomfort and potential visual problems. Current treatments, including artificial tears and anti-inflammatory drugs, have certain limitations, encouraging research into alternative therapies. We investigated the therapeutic potential of multi-wavelength light-emitting diode (LED) irradiation of mice with dry eye. First, we showed that multi-wavelength LED irradiation was non-toxic to human corneal epithelial cells and improved cell viability. We then used a scopolamine-induced mouse model of dry eye to assess the effects of multi-wavelength LED irradiation on various clinical parameters. This treatment increased the tear volume and reduced corneal irregularity, thus improving dry eye. Histological analysis revealed that multi-wavelength LED irradiation protected against corneal epithelial damage and the associated reduction in epithelial thickness and would thus improve the corneal health of dry eye patients. Multi-wavelength LED irradiation significantly reduced the corneal levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α; the treatment was thus anti-inflammatory. Our results suggest that multi-wavelength LED irradiation may serve as a safe and effective treatment for dry eye, alleviating symptoms, reducing inflammation, and promoting corneal health.

Photobiomodulation of Neurogenesis through the Enhancement of Stem Cell and Neural Progenitor Differentiation in the Central and Peripheral Nervous Systems

Photobiomodulation (PBM) is the regulation of biological processes using light energy from sources such as lasers or light-emitting diodes. Components of the nervous system, such as the brain and peripheral nerves, are important candidate PBM targets due to the lack of therapeutic modalities for the complete cure of neurological diseases. PBM can be applied either to regenerate damaged organs or to prevent or reduce damage caused by disease. Although recent findings have suggested that neural cells can be regenerated, which contradicts our previous understanding, neural structures are still thought to have weaker regenerative capacity than other systems. Therefore, enhancing the regenerative capacity of the nervous system would aid the future development of therapeutics for neural degeneration. PBM has been shown to enhance cell differentiation from stem or progenitor cells to near-target or target cells. In this review, we have reviewed research on the effects of PBM on neurogenesis in the central nervous system (e.g., animal brains) and the peripheral nervous system (e.g., peripheral sensory neural structures) and sought its potential as a therapeutic tool for intractable neural degenerative disorders.

Effects of 660-nm LED photobiomodulation on drebrin expression pattern and astrocyte migration

Photobiomodulation (PBM) is a therapeutic tool that uses red or near-infrared light in medical applications. It's applications in both central (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS) are widely studied. Among glial cells, astrocytes are known to be activated in injured or damaged brains. Astrocytic cell migration is crucial for maintaining homeostasis in the brain. Our previous study showed that PBM led to astrocyte proliferation and differentiation, but the effects on migration has not been investigated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of PBM on astrocyte migration, drebrin (DBN) expression and cytoplasmic morphology using primary cultured rat astrocyte. We applied a 660-nm light-emitting diode (LED) with fluence of 6, 12 and 18 J/cm². PBM effects on astrocyte migration were analyzed by two different migration assays (scratch assay and transwell assay). We used immunofluorescence microscopy for visualizing DBN and glial-fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and analysis of DBN expression and astrocyte cytoplasmic morphology. Both scratch assay and transwell assay showed significant difference in astrocyte migration following PBM irradiation. With these specific fluence conditions, differences in DBN expression and cell morphology were revealed. PBM could increase the astrocyte migration by altering the cell morphology and DBN expression pattern.

Recent progress in the manipulation of biochemical and biophysical cues for engineering functional tissues

Tissue engineering (TE) is currently considered a cutting-edge discipline that offers the potential for developing treatments for health conditions that negatively affect the quality of life. This interdisciplinary field typically involves the combination of cells, scaffolds, and appropriate induction factors for the regeneration and repair of damaged tissue. Cell fate decisions, such as survival, proliferation, or differentiation, critically depend on various biochemical and biophysical factors provided by the extracellular environment during developmental, physiological, and pathological processes. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms of action of these factors is critical to accurately mimic the complex architecture of the extracellular environment of living tissues and improve the efficiency of TE approaches. In this review, we recapitulate the effects that biochemical and biophysical induction factors have on various aspects of cell fate. While the role of biochemical factors, such as growth factors, small molecules, extracellular matrix (ECM) components, and cytokines, has been extensively studied in the context of TE applications, it is only recently that we have begun to understand the effects of biophysical signals such as surface topography, mechanical, and electrical signals. These biophysical cues could provide a more robust set of stimuli to manipulate cell signaling pathways during the formation of the engineered tissue. Furthermore, the simultaneous application of different types of signals appears to elicit synergistic responses that are likely to improve functional outcomes, which could help translate results into successful clinical therapies in the future.

Photobiomodulation treatment inhibits neurotoxic astrocytic polarization and protects neurons in in vitro and in vivo stroke models

The beneficial effects of photobiomodulation (PBM) on function recovery after stroke have been well-established, while its molecular and cellular mechanisms remain to be elucidated. The current study was designed to investigate the effect of PBM on synaptic proteins and astrocyte polarization of photothrombotic (PT)-stroke induced rats in vivo, and explore the possible effect of PBM treatment on oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD)-induced neurotoxic astrocytic polarization in vitro. We reported that 2-min PBM treatment (808 nm) for 7 days significantly increased synaptic proteins and neuroprotective astrocytic marker S100 Calcium Binding Protein A10 (S100A10) and inhibited neurotoxic astrocytic marker C3d in the peri-infarct region after ischemic stroke. Cell culture studies of primary cortical neurons and N2a cells showed that single-dose PBM treatment could increase cellular viability, regulate the apoptotic proteins (Caspase 9, Bcl-xL and BAX) and preserve synaptic proteins following OGD exposure. Additionly, PBM decreased the levels of C3d, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and interleukin 1β (IL-1β) on astrocytes exposed to OGD. In summary, we demonstrated that PBM could inhibit neurotoxic astrocytic polarization, preserve synaptic integrity and protect neurons against stroke injury both in vitro and in vivo.

A systematic review of the effect of photobiomodulation on the neuroinflammatory response in animal models of neurodegenerative diseases

This systematic review examines the effect of photobiomodulation (PBM), the application of red to near infrared light on body tissues, on the neuroinflammatory response and oxidative stress in animal models of neurodegenerative diseases. The research question and search protocol were prospectively registered on the PROSPERO database. Neurodegenerative diseases are becoming ever more prevalent in the ageing populations across the Western world, with no disease-modifying or neuroprotective treatment options being available. Hence there is a real need for the development of effective treatment options for patients. Inflammatory responses and oxidative stress within the central nervous system have a strong correlation with neuronal cell death. PBM is a non-invasive therapeutic option that has shown efficacy and promising effects in animal models of neurodegenerative disease; many studies have reported neuroprotection and improved behavioural outcomes. To the best of our knowledge, there has been no previous study that has reviewed the anti-inflammatory and the antioxidant effect of PBM in the context of neurodegeneration. This review has examined this relationship in animal models of a range of neurodegenerative diseases. We found that PBM can effectively reduce glial activation, pro-inflammatory cytokine expression and oxidative stress, whilst increasing anti-inflammatory glial responses and cytokines, and antioxidant capacity. These positive outcomes accompanied the neuroprotection evident after PBM treatment. Our review provides further indication that PBM can be developed into an effective non-pharmacological intervention for neurodegenerative diseases.

The effect of photobiomodulation on the brain during wakefulness and sleep

Over the last seventy years or so, many previous studies have shown that photobiomodulation, the use of red to near infrared light on body tissues, can improve central and peripheral neuronal function and survival in both health and in disease. These improvements are thought to arise principally from an impact of photobiomodulation on mitochondrial and non-mitochondrial mechanisms in a range of different cell types, including neurones. This impact has downstream effects on many stimulatory and protective genes. An often-neglected feature of nearly all of these improvements is that they have been induced during the state of wakefulness. Recent studies have shown that when applied during the state of sleep, photobiomodulation can also be of benefit, but in a different way, by improving the flow of cerebrospinal fluid and the clearance of toxic waste-products from the brain. In this review, we consider the potential differential effects of photobiomodulation dependent on the state of arousal. We speculate that the effects of photobiomodulation is on different cells and systems depending on whether it is applied during wakefulness or sleep, that it may follow a circadian rhythm. We speculate further that the arousal-dependent photobiomodulation effects are mediated principally through a biophoton – ultra-weak light emission – network of communication and repair across the brain.

Effect of Photobiomodulation Therapy on Differentiation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Derived from Impacted Third Molar Tooth into Neuron-like Cells

Peripheral nerve damages are among the most important consequences of dental and maxillofacial procedures. Tissue engineering using mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is a promising method to manage such injuries. Moreover, photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) can enhance this treatment. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of PBMT on differentiation of MSCs derived from dental follicle (DF) into neurons. MSCs were isolated from an impacted tooth follicle by digestion method. The stem cells were cultured, and differentiated into neurons. The cells received two sessions of PBMT with 810 or 980nm diode laser (100 mW, 4 J/cm² ) in either DMEM or neural inductive medium . Phenotypic characterization of the cells was determined using Flow cytometry. In addition, β-tubulin and MAP2 genes expression level changes were analyzed using RT-PCR and western blot technique. After 14 days, Flow cytometry analysis confirmed the mesenchymal nature of cells. RT-PCR and western blot affirmed the expression of β-tubulin and MAP2 genes and proteins, respectively. PBMT with both wavelengths significantly increased β-tubulin and MAP2 expression in neural inductive medium with highest expression mean in 980-nm group. PBMT with 810 and 980-nm lasers could be a promising adjunctive method in differentiation of DF-originated MSCs into neural cells.

Photobiomodulation reduces hippocampal apoptotic cell death and produces a Raman spectroscopic “signature”

Apoptotic cell death within the brain represents a significant contributing factor to impaired post-traumatic tissue function and poor clinical outcome after traumatic brain injury. After irradiation with light in the wavelength range of 600–1200 nm (photobiomodulation), previous investigations have reported a reduction in apoptosis in various tissues. This study investigates the effect of 660 nm photobiomodulation on organotypic slice cultured hippocampal tissue of rats, examining the effect on apoptotic cell loss. Tissue optical Raman spectroscopic changes were evaluated. A significantly higher proportion of apoptotic cells 62.8±12.2% vs 48.6±13.7% (P<0.0001) per region were observed in the control group compared with the photobiomodulation group. After photobiomodulation, Raman spectroscopic observations demonstrated 1440/1660 cm-1 spectral shift. Photobiomodulation has the potential for therapeutic utility, reducing cell loss to apoptosis in injured neurological tissue, as demonstrated in this in vitro model. A clear Raman spectroscopic signal was observed after apparent optimal irradiation, potentially integrable into therapeutic light delivery apparatus for real-time dose metering.

Light Emitting Diodes Irradiation Regulates miRNA-877-3p to Promote Cardiomyocyte Proliferation

Mammalian cardiomyocytes (CMs) maintain a low capacity for self-renewal in adulthood, therefore the induction of CMs cycle re-entry is an important approach to promote myocardial repair after injury. Recently, photobiomodulation (PBM) has been used to manipulate physiological activities of various tissues and organs by non-invasive means. Here, we demonstrate that conditioned PBM using light-emitting diodes with a wavelength of 630 nm (LED-Red) was capable of promoting the proliferation of neonatal CMs. Further studies showed that low-power LED-Red affected the expression of miR-877-3p and promoted the proliferation of CMs. In contrast, silencing of miR-877-3p partially abolished the pro-proliferative actions of LED-Red irradiation on CMs. Mechanistically, GADD45g was identified as a downstream target gene of miR-877-3p. Conditioned LED-Red irradiation also inhibited the expression of GADD45g in neonatal CMs. Moreover, GADD45g siRNA reversed the positive effect of LED-Red on the proliferation of neonatal CMs. Taken together, conditioned LED-Red irradiation increased miR-877-3p expression and promoted the proliferation of neonatal CMs by targeting GADD45g. This finding provides a new insight into the role of LED-Red irradiation in neonatal CMs biology and suggests its potential application in myocardial injury repair.