Photobiomodulation (PBM) also known as low-level level laser therapy is the use of red and near-infrared light to stimulate healing, relieve pain, and reduce inflammation. The primary chromophores have been identified as cytochrome c oxidase in mitochondria, and calcium ion channels (possibly mediated by light absorption by opsins). Secondary effects of photon absorption include increases in ATP, a brief burst of reactive oxygen species, an increase in nitric oxide, and modulation of calcium levels. Tertiary effects include activation of a wide range of transcription factors leading to improved cell survival, increased proliferation and migration, and new protein synthesis. There is a pronounced biphasic dose response whereby low levels of light have stimulating effects, while high levels of light have inhibitory effects. It has been found that PBM can produce ROS in normal cells, but when used in oxidatively stressed cells or in animal models of disease, ROS levels are lowered. PBM is able to up-regulate anti-oxidant defenses and reduce oxidative stress. It was shown that PBM can activate NF-kB in normal quiescent cells, however in activated inflammatory cells, inflammatory markers were decreased. One of the most reproducible effects of PBM is an overall reduction in inflammation, which is particularly important for disorders of the joints, traumatic injuries, lung disorders, and in the brain. PBM has been shown to reduce markers of M1 phenotype in activated macrophages. Many reports have shown reductions in reactive nitrogen species and prostaglandins in various animal models. PBM can reduce inflammation in the brain, abdominal fat, wounds, lungs, spinal cord.

Michael R Hamblin

1 Wellman Center for Photomedicine Massachusetts General Hospital BAR414 40 Blossom Street Boston MA 02114 USA

2 Department of Dermatology Harvard Medical School Boston MA 02115 USA

3 Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology Cambridge MA 02139 USA

AIMS Biophysics

AIMS Biophysics is an international Open Access journal devoted to publishing peer-reviewed, high quality, original papers in the field of biophysics. We publish the following article types: original research articles, reviews, editorials, letters, and conference reports.    AIMS Biophysics welcomes, but not limited to, the papers from the following topics:    · Structural biology  · Biophysical technology  · Bioenergetics  · Membrane biophysics  · Cellular Biophysics  · Electrophysiology  · Neuro-Biophysics  · Biomechanics  · Systems biology

AIMS Biophysics is an international Open Access journal dedicated to publishing peer-reviewed, high-quality original papers in the field of biophysics. We publish various types of articles, including original research articles, reviews, editorials, letters, and conference reports. AIMS Biophysics welcomes papers on a wide range of topics, including but not limited to: structural biology, biophysical technology, bioenergetics, membrane biophysics, cellular biophysics, electrophysiology, neuro-biophysics, biomechanics, and systems biology.

《AIMS Biophysics》是一本国际开放获取期刊，致力于发表经过同行评审的高质量原创论文，涵盖生物物理学领域。我们接受以下类型的文章：原创研究文章、综述、社论、信件和会议报告。《AIMS Biophysics》欢迎但不限于以下主题的论文：结构生物学、生物物理技术、生物能量学、膜生物物理学、细胞生物物理学、电生理学、神经生物物理学、生物力学和系统生物学。

Mechanisms and applications of the anti-inflammatory effects of photobiomodulation

ivySCI AI Smartly Parses PDF, Answers Researchers' Questions, and Helps You Understand Papers in Seconds

Journal Info

Category	Quartile
BIOPHYSICS	4