title: Near-infrared light is neuroprotective in a monkey model of Parkinson disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine whether near-infrared light (NIr) treatment reduces clinical signs and/or offers neuroprotection in a subacute 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) monkey model of Parkinson disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  We implanted an optical fiber device that delivered NIr (670 nm) to the midbrain of macaque monkeys, close to the substantia nigra of both sides. MPTP injections (1.5-2.1mg/kg) were made over a 5- to 7-day period, during which time the NIr device was turned on. This was then followed by a 3-week survival period. Monkeys were evaluated clinically (eg, posture, bradykinesia) and behaviorally (open field test), and their brains were processed for immunohistochemistry and stereology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All monkeys in the MPTP group developed severe clinical and behavioral impairment (mean clinical scores = 21-34; n = 11). By contrast, the MPTP-NIr group developed much less clinical and behavioral impairment (n = 9); some monkeys developed moderate clinical signs (mean scores = 11-15; n = 3), whereas the majority--quite remarkably--developed few clinical signs (mean scores = 1-6; n = 6). The monkeys that developed moderate clinical signs had hematic fluid in their optical fibers at postmortem, presumably limiting NIr exposure and overall clinical improvement. NIr was not toxic to brain tissue and offered neuroprotection to dopaminergic cells and their terminations against MPTP insult, particularly in animals that developed few clinical signs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings indicate NIr to be an effective therapeutic agent in a primate model of the disease and create the template for translation into clinical trials.
authors.affiliation: University Grenoble Alpes, CEA, LETI, CLINATEC, MINATEC Campus, Grenoble, France.
authors.forename: Fannie
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Darlot
authors.affiliation: University Grenoble Alpes, CEA, LETI, CLINATEC, MINATEC Campus, Grenoble, France.
authors.forename: Cécile
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Moro
authors.affiliation: Departments of Anatomy, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Nabil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: El Massri
authors.affiliation: University Grenoble Alpes, CEA, LETI, CLINATEC, MINATEC Campus, Grenoble, France.
authors.forename: Claude
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chabrol
authors.affiliation: Departments of Physiology, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Daniel M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Johnstone
authors.affiliation: University Grenoble Alpes, CEA, LETI, CLINATEC, MINATEC Campus, Grenoble, France.
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Reinhart
authors.affiliation: University Grenoble Alpes, CEA, LETI, CLINATEC, MINATEC Campus, Grenoble, France.
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Agay
authors.affiliation: University Grenoble Alpes, CEA, LETI, CLINATEC, MINATEC Campus, Grenoble, France.
authors.forename: Napoleon
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.affiliation: University Grenoble Alpes, CEA, LETI, CLINATEC, MINATEC Campus, Grenoble, France.
authors.forename: Dhaïf
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bekha
authors.affiliation: University Grenoble Alpes, CEA, LETI, CLINATEC, MINATEC Campus, Grenoble, France.
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Auboiroux
authors.affiliation: University Grenoble Alpes, CEA, LETI, CLINATEC, MINATEC Campus, Grenoble, France.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Costecalde
authors.affiliation: Departments of Anatomy, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Cassandra L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Peoples
authors.affiliation: Departments of Anatomy, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Helena D T
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Anastascio
authors.affiliation: Departments of Anatomy, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Victoria E
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.affiliation: Departments of Physiology, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stone
authors.affiliation: Departments of Anatomy, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mitrofanis
authors.affiliation: University Grenoble Alpes, CEA, LETI, CLINATEC, MINATEC Campus, Grenoble, France.
authors.forename: Alim-Louis
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Benabid
mesh_terms: D015632:1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007259:Infrared Rays / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy; D020267:MPTP Poisoning / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008252:Macaca fascicularis; D008297:Male; D008636:Mesencephalon / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects*; D009498:Neurotoxins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D055100:Optical Fibers
chemical_list: D009498:Neurotoxins; D015632:1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine