title: Enhancement of cutaneous immune response to bacterial infection after low-level light therapy with 1072 nm infrared light: a preliminary study.
abstract: We investigated the photobiomodulation effects of 1072 nm infrared light on the natural immune response involved in anti-bacterial and wound healing processes. Thirty mice infected with MRSA on the skin were divided into two groups. The experimental group was treated with 1072 nm infrared light (irradiance: 20 mW/cm(2), fluence: 12 J/cm(2) for 10 min) at 2, 4, 8, 12, 24 h, 3 and 5 days after inoculation and the control group with sham light. Serial changes of the mRNA levels of TLR2, IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, iNOS, MCP-1, TGF-β, bFGF and VEGF were studied by real time RT-PCR and those of the expression level of VEGF, bFGF, TGF-β and NF-κB by immunohistochemistry. The mRNA levels of the cytokines involved in the early phase of anti-bacterial immune response (IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, MCP-1) increased significantly in the 1072 nm group, peaking between 12 and 24 h post-inoculation. These levels normalized after 3-5 days. Immunohistochemistry revealed a notably stronger expression of VEGF in the 1072 nm group from 8-h post-inoculation to 5-day post-inoculation. We concluded that 1072 nm infrared light had a photobiomodulation effect which resulted in an enhanced biological immune response to the bacterial infection by MRSA and also increased the expression of VEGF to a significant level.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Korea University Medical School, 126-1, 5-Ga, Anam-Dong, Seongbuk-Gu, Seoul 136-705, South Korea. sycelinelee@gmail.com
authors.forename: Seung Yoon Celine
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: In-Wha
authors.initials: IW
authors.lastname: Seong
authors.forename: Ji-Seon
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kyeong-A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Cheon
authors.forename: Se Hun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: Hee Hwan
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Ki Ho
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000276:immunology / Q000528:radiation effects; D007259:Infrared Rays / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000276:immunology / Q000528:radiation effects