Journal of Innovative Optical Health Sciences, Volume. 18, Issue 5, 2550008(2025)

Inflammatory cytokine regulation and behavioral improvement in depressed mice: The role of photobiomodulation

Ye Zhang, Meiyun Xia, Wei Song, Deyu Li, Xunbin Wei*, and Daifa Wang**

In recent years, depression has emerged as a significant global health concern, prompting many individuals to seek pharmacological interventions. The identification of inflammatory changes in the hippocampus of depressed patients has highlighted a potential therapeutic target. Nevertheless, the effectiveness of medications targeting these specific alterations has yet to be fully substantiated. Preliminary research has suggested the potential benefits of photobiomodulation (PBM) as a treatment for depression, with no significant adverse effects reported. This study utilized near-infrared light at intensities of 50mW/cm2 and 300mW/cm2 to illuminate mice with chronic mild stress (CMS)-induced depression model, aiming to explore the therapeutic effects of PBM on depression. The findings revealed that when exposed to a power density of 300mW/cm2, the mice exhibited enhanced behavioral outcomes, accompanied by decreased levels of inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-5, and IL-6 in the hippocampus. A noteworthy association was observed between behavioral manifestations and inflammatory cytokine levels. This study posits that PBM at an intensity of 300mW/cm2 is a viable nonpharmacological intervention for depression, as it demonstrates a notable enhancement in depressive symptoms and the regulation of inflammatory mediators within the hippocampal region of the brain. However, this study is constrained by the particular PBM parameters employed; therefore, additional research is necessary to investigate a broader spectrum of doses and treatment durations in order to enhance the therapeutic application and deepen the understanding of the underlying mechanisms.

Tools

Get Citation

Copy Citation Text

Ye Zhang, Meiyun Xia, Wei Song, Deyu Li, Xunbin Wei, Daifa Wang. Inflammatory cytokine regulation and behavioral improvement in depressed mice: The role of photobiomodulation[J]. Journal of Innovative Optical Health Sciences, 2025, 18(5): 2550008

Download Citation

EndNote(RIS)BibTexPlain Text
Save article for my favorites
Paper Information

Category: Research Articles

Received: Aug. 19, 2024

Accepted: Nov. 20, 2024

Published Online: Aug. 27, 2025

The Author Email: Xunbin Wei (xwei@bjmu.edu.cn), Daifa Wang (daifa.wang@buaa.edu.cn)

DOI:10.1142/S1793545825500087

Topics