Low-intensity far-red light inhibits early lesions that contribute to diabetic retinopathy: in vivo and in vitro. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2013 May 01;54(5):3681-90
Date
04/06/2013Pubmed ID
23557732Pubmed Central ID
PMC3668802DOI
10.1167/iovs.12-11018Scopus ID
2-s2.0-84883563790 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 79 CitationsAbstract
PURPOSE: Treatment with light in the far-red to near-infrared region of the spectrum (photobiomodulation [PBM]) has beneficial effects in tissue injury. We investigated the therapeutic efficacy of 670-nm PBM in rodent and cultured cell models of diabetic retinopathy.
METHODS: Studies were conducted in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats and in cultured retinal cells. Diabetes-induced retinal abnormalities were assessed functionally, biochemically, and histologically in vivo and in vitro.
RESULTS: We observed beneficial effects of PBM on the neural and vascular elements of retina. Daily 670-nm PBM treatment (6 J/cm(2)) resulted in significant inhibition in the diabetes-induced death of retinal ganglion cells, as well as a 50% improvement of the ERG amplitude (photopic b wave responses) (both P < 0.01). To explore the mechanism for these beneficial effects, we examined physiologic and molecular changes related to cell survival, oxidative stress, and inflammation. PBM did not alter cytochrome oxidase activity in the retina or in cultured retinal cells. PBM inhibited diabetes-induced superoxide production and preserved MnSOD expression in vivo. Diabetes significantly increased both leukostasis and expression of ICAM-1, and PBM essentially prevented both of these abnormalities. In cultured retinal cells, 30-mM glucose exposure increased superoxide production, inflammatory biomarker expression, and cell death. PBM inhibited all of these abnormalities.
CONCLUSIONS: PBM ameliorated lesions of diabetic retinopathy in vivo and reduced oxidative stress and cell death in vitro. PBM has been documented to have minimal risk. PBM is noninvasive, inexpensive, and easy to administer. We conclude that PBM is a simple adjunct therapy to attenuate the development of diabetic retinopathy.
Author List
Tang J, Du Y, Lee CA, Talahalli R, Eells JT, Kern TSAuthor
Janis Eells PhD Professor in the Biomedical Sciences department at University of Wisconsin - MilwaukeeMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AnimalsCell Line
Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental
Diabetic Retinopathy
Disease Models, Animal
Electron Transport Complex IV
Electroretinography
Humans
In Situ Nick-End Labeling
In Vitro Techniques
Leukostasis
Light
Male
Neuroglia
Nitric Oxide
Oxidative Stress
Photoreceptor Cells, Vertebrate
Phototherapy
Rats
Rats, Inbred Lew
Retinal Ganglion Cells
Signal Transduction
Superoxides
