Photobiomodulation

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Photobiomodulation The Healing Power of
Light Janis T. Eells, Ph.D. Wisconsin
Distinguished Professor
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Thank You for the Opportunity to Share Our Work

• WiSys and M. John
• UW Stout

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Colleagues and Collaborators

• Ron Ignatius
• Judy Ignatius
• Robin Schumacher

• Janis Eells
• Kristina DeSmet
• Sandeep Gopalakrishan

• Jonathan Stone
• Krisztina Valter
• Diana Kirk

• Alfredo Sadun

• Harry Whelan
• Margaret Wong-Riley
• Michele Henry
• Ellen Buchmann

• Jim VerHoeve
• Mike Nork

• Solange Salomao
• Adriana Berezovsky

• Rina Das
• Marti Jett

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Photobiomodulation Change in Function by Light

• EXAMPLES
• Photosynthesis
• Vit D Activation
• Rhodopsin activation in Vision

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The Leap from Plants to Animals

• Light stimulates photoacceptor molecules in
  plant cells and in animal cells.
• Plant cells chloroplasts contain chlorophylls
  and other photoacceptors phytochromes,
  cryptochromes
• Animal cells - cytochrome c oxidase
  (mitochondria), hemoglobin, myoglobin, porphyrin
  compounds.

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From Growing Plants on the Space Shuttle to
Treating Mouth Ulcers in Cancer Patients

• NASA funded the development of LEDs for use in
  Plant Growth Experiments on the Space Shuttle and
  International Space station
• QDI and Wisconsin Center for Space Automation and
  Robotics
• Shown to improve healing in animal models of
  diabetic wound healing
• Used to improve healing of Mucositis in Bone
  Marrow Transplant Patients

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Photobiomodulation Postulated Signaling Pathway
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Photobiomodulation Activation of Mitochondrial
Cytochrome Oxidase
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Why Cytochrome OxidaseCorrelation of Absorption
Spectrum with Action Spectrum
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Photobiomodulation Why Cytochrome Oxidase?

• Cytochrome Oxidase absorbs light at the NIR
  wavelengths which promote cell division, cell
  repair and cell metabolism
• Key mitochondrial enzyme
• Important Regulator of Cell Function
• Cell Signal Transducer

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Why Mitochondria?

• Produce Energy - ATP
• Side Product - ROS
• Signal other parts of cell
• Regulate Life and Death of the Cell -natures
  ultimate clock

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Mitochondrial Dysfunction Plays An Important Role
in Cellular Aging and Degenerative Diseases

• Cardiovascular Disease
• Eye Diseases - Macular Degeneration, Glaucoma
• Neurodegenerative Diseases - Parkinsons Disease
• Skeletal Muscle - Aging and Injury
• Metabolic Diseases - Diabetes
• Environmental Toxins - TCDD

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Photobiomodulation for Laser Induced Retinal
Damage


Pilot Lased
Damaged Retina
Healed Functional Retina
Low Level Energy Therapy Integrated into Face
Sheild and Helmet of Pilot
Persistence in Combat
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Photobiomodulation Promotes Retinal Healing
Following Laser Eye Injury
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Methanol Intoxication Models Aging and Retinal
Disease by poisoning retinal mitochondria

• Ingestion of a small amount (1-2 oz) of methanol
  can produce permanent blindness.
• Methanol is metabolized to a mitochondrial toxin,
  formic acid which acts to inhibit Cytochrome
  Oxidase.
• Formic acid disrupts mitochondrial function in
  the retina and optic nerve resulting in blindness.

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Photobiomodulation for Retinal Disease
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Photobiomodulation Attenuates Methanol
Toxicity Protects Against Loss of Retinal
Function

• 670 nm Treatment
• At 5 hr, 25hr, 50 hr
• 28 mW/cm2 - 2 min
• 4 joules/cm2

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Photobiomodulation Attenuates Methanol
Toxicity Prevents Retinal Damage
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Retinitis Pigmentosa is a Retinal Degenerative
Disease Characterized by Photoreceptor Death

• A majority of RP cases result from a mutation in
  the rhodopsin gene
• Leading to misfolded opsin.
• Misfolded opsin increases oxidative stress and
  leads to photoreceptor cell death

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Will Photobiomodulation Attenuate Photoreceptor
Cell Death Retinits Pigmentosa?

• Time Course of Photoreceptor Death
• in the P23H-3 and SD Retina

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Photobiomodulation reduced the rate of
photoreceptor death during the critical period
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Photobiomodulation Applications

• Eye Diseases - Macular Degeneration, Glaucoma,
  Diabetic Retinopathy
• Neurodegenerative Diseases - Parkinsons Disease,
  ALS, Alzheimers Disease, MS
• Skeletal Muscle - Aging and Injury
• Metabolic Diseases - Diabetes
• Environmental Toxins

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Acknowledgement of Support