title: The regulatory effect of polychromatic (visible and infrared) light on human humoral immunity.
abstract: The immunological effects of visible and infrared light from laser and non-laser sources have remained insufficiently studied, which has restricted the use of light in the treatment of diseases associated with immune system disorders. The present randomised, placebo-controlled double-blind trial was designed to study changes in the humoral immunity of a large group of volunteers after exposure of a small body area to polychromatic visible and infrared polarized (VIP) and non-polarized (VInP) light (400-3400 nm, 95% polarization, 40 mW cm(-2), 12 J cm(-2) and 400-3400 nm, no polarization, 38 mW cm(-2), 11.2 J cm(-2), respectively). Serum immunoglobulins (Ig) M, A, and G were determined turbidimetrically, and the immune complexes (ICs) by precipitation with 5% polyethylene glycol and subsequent spectrophotometric analysis. A single VIP irradiation induced an average rise in serum IgM levels of 13% (p < 0.05). By the end of the 10 day course, it has exceeded the baseline level by 26%, with an increase in IgA levels of 17 and 12% (p < 0.04) one week after the last session. In subjects with a high IC content, it decreased rapidly to the normal level. A single exposure of volunteers to VInP light rapidly produced changes similar to those observed on VIP irradiation, but with an increase in IgM 2.3 to 3 times lower, independent of the initial levels. On the other hand, VInP light exposure decreased the IC content more than VIP light.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cytology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, St Petersburg, Russia.
authors.forename: Natalya A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Zhevago
authors.forename: Kira A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Samoilova
authors.forename: Ksenya D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Obolenskaya
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000528:radiation effects*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000097:blood / Q000528:radiation effects; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood / Q000528:radiation effects; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood / Q000528:radiation effects; D007259:Infrared Rays; D008027:Light; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M