Improvement of host response to sepsis by photobiomodulation

• Published in: Lasers in surgery and medicine 1997, Vol.21 (3), p.262-268
• Main Authors: Yu, Wei, Chi, Lai-Har, Naim, John O., Lanzafame, Raymond J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adenosine Triphosphate - biosynthesis; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Cecal Diseases - immunology; Intestinal Perforation - immunology; Laser Therapy; Lymphocyte Activation - immunology; Male; Medical sciences; Miscellaneous; Radiotherapy. Instrumental treatment. Physiotherapy. Reeducation. Rehabilitation, orthophony, crenotherapy. Diet therapy and various other treatments (general aspects); Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Shock, Septic - immunology
• ISSN: 0196-8092; 1096-9101
• DOI: 10.1002/(SICI)1096-9101(1997)21:3<262::AID-LSM6>3.0.CO;2-O

Background and Objective Late sepsis causes immunosuppression and is associated with energy depletion in lymphocytes. Adjuvant treatment with ATP‐MgCL2 appears to improve cellular energetics and decrease mortality. Laser irradiation can promote cell proliferation and increase cellular ATP synthesis, which may improve the host immune response in sepsis. The purpose of this study was to determine whether laser irradiation (LI) has a stimulatory effect on the immune response in sepsis using an animal model. Study Design/Materials and Methods The cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) rat model was used. Thirty‐six SD rats were divided equally among four groups: control (nonoperative), sham operation, CLP treated with laser irradiation, and CLP without laser irradiation. The peritoneal cavity of each animal in CLP/laser group was irradiated immediately after CLP using an Argon‐dye laser at a wavelength of 630 nm and at a fluence of 5 J/cm2. Some animals were euthanized 24 hr following CLP and were used to evaluate the immune response (lymphoctye proliferation). In a separate experiment, the survival of septic rats was observed for 60 days. Lymphocytes isolated from normal rat spleens were used to observe for biostimulatory effects in vitro. Results LI significantly improved ex‐vivo lymphoctye proliferation of cells from septic rats (179.7 ± 17.2 vs. 129.5 ± 7.8; P < 0.01) and enhanced survival in septic rats (79% vs. 42%; P < 0.001). LI significantly stimulated lymphoctye proliferation in the presence of mitogenic stimuli and enhanced lymphoctye ATP synthesis (P < 0.05). Conclusion LI improves the host immune response and survival rate in sepsis in an animal model. Our studies suggest that LI may be useful as an adjuvant therapy for sepsis. Lasers Surg. Med. 21:262–268, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.