Photobiomodulation ameliorates inflammatory parameters in fibroblast-like synoviocytes and experimental animal models of rheumatoid arthritis

• DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1122581
• Publication Date: 2023-03-29T05:40:36Z
• Authors: Ji Hyeon Ryu; Jisu Park; Bo-Young Kim; Yeonye Kim; Nam Gyun Kim; Yong-Il Shin
• Keywords: rheumatoid arthritis; Male; LED therapy; Inflammasomes; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; Immunology; NF-kappa B; RC581-607; Fibroblasts; collagen-induced arthritis; Synoviocytes; Arthritis, Experimental; 3. Good health; Arthritis, Rheumatoid; Mice; Disease Models, Animal; Mice, Inbred DBA; Antirheumatic Agents; photobiomodulation; NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein; NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3; Animals; Cytokines; Immunologic diseases. Allergy

IntroductionRheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic destructive inflammatory disease that afflicts over one percent of the world’s population. Current pharmacological treatments remain relatively ineffective. In this context, photobiomodulation (PBM) is a potential resource for the treatment of RA. This study investigates investigate the anti-arthritic effects and related mechanisms of PBM on fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) from RA patients and a mouse model of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA).MethodsThe RA-FLSs were irradiated with a light emitting diode (LED) at a wavelength of 610 nm for 20 min, and the corresponding power intensities were 5 and 10 mW/cm2. After the LED irradiation, cell viability, proliferation, migration, and invasion assays were performed. Male DBA/1J mice were used to establish an animal model of CIA. Light stimulation with 10 mW/cm2 was applied to the ankle joints via direct contact with the skin for 40 min, daily for 2 weeks.Results and DiscussionPBM significantly reduced tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α-induced increase in proliferation, migration, and invasion in RA-FLSs, and downregulated the activation of nuclear factor-κappa B (NF-κB) and NLRP3 inflammasome by TNF-α. Moreover, PBM greatly inhibited the induction and development of CIA, resulting in the inhibition of synovial inflammation and cartilage degradation. PBM therapy decreased the serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, while increasing the anti-inflammatory cytokines. PBM suppressed the translocation of NF-κB and activation of NLRP3 inflammasome in the ankle joint. Furthermore, PBM showed a more pronounced anti-arthritic effect when combined with methotrexate (MTX), a disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD). The results showed that the effectiveness of MTX + PBM in CIA is superior to that of either MTX or PBM and that both work synergistically. Therefore, PBM with LED may be a potential therapeutic intervention for against RA.