Near-Infrared II Photobiomodulation Preconditioning Ameliorates Stroke Injury via Phosphorylation of eNOS

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Neuroscience
• Cardiovascular Research

Background:

• Current stroke treatments like thrombolysis and thrombectomy benefit only a small patient fraction.
• Endothelial dysfunction, marked by nitric oxide deficiency, is key in stroke pathogenesis.
• Restoring nitric oxide via endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) is a potential therapeutic strategy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the therapeutic potential of transcranial near-infrared laser treatment for ischemic stroke.
• To investigate the role of eNOS phosphorylation in laser-induced stroke protection.

Main Methods:

• Preclinical study using a mouse model of ischemic stroke.
• Transcranial 1064-nm laser pretreatment before middle cerebral artery occlusion.
• Assessment of cerebral blood flow, eNOS phosphorylation, infarct volume, and neurological deficits.
• Utilized eNOS S1176A knock-in mice to study eNOS phosphorylation.

Main Results:

• Laser pretreatment significantly improved cerebral blood flow.
• Enhanced eNOS phosphorylation was observed following laser treatment.
• Reduced infarct volumes and improved neurological function were noted in treated mice.

Conclusions:

• Near-infrared II photobiomodulation presents a noninvasive, low-risk adjunctive therapy for stroke.
• This physical modality warrants further investigation for stroke and cardiovascular disease treatment.
• Restoring eNOS activity is a viable therapeutic target for stroke injury.