Formation of photoproducts and cytotoxicity of bilirubin irradiated with turquoise and blue phototherapy light

• Published in: Acta pædiatrica (Oslo) 2005-10, Vol.94 (10), p.1448-1454
• Main Authors: BRUZELL ROLL, Ellen, CHRISTENSEN, Terje
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Apoptosis - radiation effects; Bilirubin; Biological and medical sciences; Cell Death - radiation effects; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Color; Dermatology; General aspects; Medical sciences; Mice; Photobiology; Photosensitizing Agents - pharmacology; Phototherapy - instrumentation; Phototherapy - methods; Probability; Sensitivity and Specificity; Skin involvement in other diseases. Miscellaneous. General aspects; Tumor Cells, Cultured
• ISSN: 0803-5253; 1651-2227
• DOI: 10.1080/08035250510032655

To compare a new turquoise ("green") fluorescent phototherapy lamp (490 nm) with a conventional blue phototherapy lamp (450 nm) with respect to cytotoxicity and photochemical effects of bilirubin. Mouse lymphoma cells (L5178Y-R) in the presence of bilirubin solutions were exposed to phototherapy light. Occurrence of necrosis and apoptosis, reduction of mitotic index and inhibited cell growth was assayed by appropriate methods. The presence of bilirubin and its photoisomers was measured by high-pressure liquid chromatography analysis and absorption spectroscopy. At constant and equal light irradiances, the cytotoxic effects in the presence of bilirubin bound to human serum albumin showed that the green lamp caused significantly less necrosis (n = 4, p < 0.05) and less inhibition of cell multiplication (n = 3, p < 0.05) than the blue lamp. A slightly lower apoptotic fraction, although not statistically significant, was observed in cells exposed to the blue lamp. Photo-oxidation of bilirubin was more prominent with blue light irradiation. The photoequilibria between geometric isomers of bilirubin were different for the two lamps; more geometric photoisomers were formed by blue irradiation (n = 6, p < 0.05). The amounts of the most water-soluble isomers (presumably mainly lumirubin) were rather similar for the two lamps. The two lamps were similar in the formation of therapeutically relevant photoproducts, but the blue lamp showed potential in forming more photo-oxidation products and in causing more severe cellular damage in the presence of bilirubin.