The effects of daily irradiation with polychromatic visible polarized light on human lymphocyte populations.
OBJECTIVE
The goal of this randomized, placebo controlled, double-blind study was to investigate the effects of transcutaneous irradiation with polychromatic visible polarized light (540-780 nm; 68% polarization; power density 3.0 E-10 W/cm(2)) on a subset population of human lymphocytes using flow cytometry.


BACKGROUND
The biomodulation and therapeutic effects of visible light of different wavelengths are well known, but the immunological effects of polychromatic visible polarized light have not been investigated sufficiently.


METHODS
Before and after 28 consecutive days of irradiation, blood samples were collected from the subjects and the population count of the lymphocyte subset was measured.


RESULTS
The absolute count of total lymphocytes, CD3(+) lymphocytes, and CD3(+)CD4(+) lymphocytes increased by 7% (p = 0.023), 9% (p = 0.058), and 13% (p = 0.021), respectively. Yet the absolute count of WBCs, CD3(+)CD8(+), CD19(+), and CD16(+)56(+) lymphocytes did not change significantly.


CONCLUSIONS
The application of polychromatic visible polarized light with the aforementioned features increases the CD3(+)CD4(+) lymphocyte population. It is suggested that this regimen may be useful for the promotion of natural defenses in cell-mediated immunity.
Lim
Jeong H
JH
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
Lee
Jongmin
J
Lee
In S
IS
Kim
Youn J
YJ
Song
Eun Y
EY
Choi
Young S
YS
Yun
Yeo M
YM
D000328:Adult; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000276:immunology*; D017252:CD3 Complex; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000276:immunology / Q000528:radiation effects; D008027:Light; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010789:Phototherapy
D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D017252:CD3 Complex; D015704:CD4 Antigens