Evaluation of Photobiogoverning Role of Blue Light Irradiation on Viral Replication
Phil-Sun Oh1, Kyung Won Kang2, Seung Rok Ryu2
1Department of Nuclear Medicine, Molecular Imaging & Therapeutic Medicine Research Center, Biomedical Research Institute, Jeonbuk National University Medical School and Hospital, Jeonju, Korea.
Abstract:
Most recently, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 has triggered a global pandemic without successful therapeutics. The goal of the present study was to define the antiviral effect and therapeutic action of blue light irradiation in SARS-CoV-2-infected cells. Vero cells were infected with SARS-CoV-2 (NCCP43326) or mock inoculum at 50 pfu/well. After blue light irradiation, the inhibitory effect was assessed by qPCR and plaque reduction assay. When Vero cells were irradiated to blue light ranging from 1.6 to 10 J cm-2 , SARS-CoV-2 replication was inhibited by up to 80%. The antiviral effect of blue light irradiation was associated with translation suppression via the phosphorylation of eIF2α by prolonging endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. The levels of LC3A/B and Beclin-1, which are key markers of autophagy, and the levels of PERK and PDI for ER stress were highly increased, whereas caspase-3 cleavage was inhibited after blue light irradiation in the later stage of infection. Our data revealed that blue light irradiation exerted antiviral and photo-biogoverning activities by prolonging ER stress and stimulating autophagy progression during viral infection. The findings increase our understanding of how photo-energy acts on viral progression and have implications for use in therapeutic strategies against COVID-19.
Insights
Blue light irradiation effectively inhibits SARS-CoV-2 replication by up to 80% in infected cells. This antiviral effect is linked to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and autophagy, suggesting potential therapeutic applications for COVID-19.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Photobiology
- Cellular Biology
Background:
- Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused a global pandemic with limited therapeutic options.
- Understanding novel therapeutic strategies is crucial for managing COVID-19.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the antiviral effects and therapeutic mechanisms of blue light irradiation against SARS-CoV-2.
- To elucidate how blue light impacts viral replication and cellular stress pathways.
Main Methods:
- Vero cells were infected with SARS-CoV-2 and subsequently irradiated with blue light at varying energy densities (1.6–10 J/cm²).
- Antiviral activity was quantified using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and plaque reduction assays.
- Cellular responses, including endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress markers (PERK, PDI), autophagy markers (LC3A/B, Beclin-1), and apoptosis marker (caspase-3), were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Blue light irradiation inhibited SARS-CoV-2 replication by up to 80%.
- The antiviral effect was associated with suppressed translation through eIF2α phosphorylation, induced by prolonged ER stress.
- Increased levels of autophagy markers (LC3A/B, Beclin-1) and ER stress markers (PERK, PDI) were observed, while caspase-3 cleavage was inhibited.
Conclusions:
- Blue light irradiation demonstrates significant antiviral and photo-biogoverning properties against SARS-CoV-2.
- The mechanism involves prolonging ER stress and stimulating autophagy, offering a novel therapeutic approach.
- These findings contribute to understanding photo-energy's role in viral infections and present implications for COVID-19 therapeutic strategies.
