The potential effect of leptin co-administration on photodynamic damage using quail chorioallantoic membrane model

• Published in: Photodiagnosis and photodynamic therapy 2023-09, Vol.43, p.103711-103711, Article 103711
• Main Authors: Meta, Majlinda, Bilčík, Boris, Čavarga, Ivan, Grzegorzewska, Agnieszka K., Kundeková, Barbora, Máčajová, Mariana
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: hypericin; leptin; PDT; photodynamic damage; quail CAM
• ISSN: 1572-1000; 1873-1597
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pdpdt.2023.103711

•Tissue damage can occur after photodynamic therapy•The tissue hormone leptin may minimise adverse effects due to its regenerative properties•The regenerative effect of leptin differs according to the time of application after PDT•Quail chorioallantoic membrane model is suitable model for PDT effect evaluation The chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) of the Japanese quail is an excellent model for studying photodynamic therapy (PDT) due to its rich vascularisation. PDT is used not only in oncological treatment but also in infectious diseases, or psoriasis, where it yields significant advantages. This treatment also has its limitations, such as burning, itching, erythema, redness, swelling, and delayed wound healing. The aim of this study was to analyse the potentially protective properties of the tissue hormone leptin during PDT. Japanese quail embryos incubated ex ovo were used in this experiment. On the 9th day of embryonic development, leptin (5 μg) and photosensitiser hypericin (79 μM) were topically applied, followed by irradiation. The effect of leptin co-administration was evaluated from CAM images and histological structure analysis, histological samples, and qPCR, where the expression of genes involved in angiogenesis, apoptosis, and oxidative stress was monitored. We observed vascular damage in all experimental groups, the highest damage was found after the application of hypericin without leptin coadministration. Histological analysis confirmed the protective effect of leptin. qPCR analysis presented differences in FREK gene expression, but also in genes involved in oxidative stress like SOD, NRF-1, NRF-2, and GPX7. The application of leptin significantly reduced the expression of apoptosis regulatory proteins CASP3, cytochrome C, and APAF1. Our results in the CAM model suggest a possible protective effect of leptin to prevent PDT damage and aid in the subsequent regeneration of target tissues after antimicrobial PDT.