Aguida Blanche, Chabi Marie-Marthe, Baouz Soria, Mould Rhys, Bell Jimmy D, Pooam Marootpong, André Sebastien, Archambault Dominique, Ahmad Margaret, Jourdan Nathalie
UMR8256, CNRS, IBPS, Sorbonne University, 75005 Paris, France.
Research Centre for Optimal Health, University of Westminster, London W1W 6UW, UK.
Antioxidants (Basel). 2023 Oct 2;12(10):1824. doi: 10.3390/antiox12101824.
The leading cause of mortality from SARS-CoV-2 is an exaggerated host immune response, triggering cytokine storms, multiple organ failure and death. Current drug- and vaccine-based therapies are of limited efficacy against novel viral variants. Infrared therapy is a non-invasive and safe method that has proven effective against inflammatory conditions for over 100 years. However, its mechanism of action is poorly understood and has not received widespread acceptance. We herein investigate whether near-infrared (NIR) light exposure in human primary alveolar and macrophage cells could downregulate inflammatory cytokines triggered by the SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein or lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and via what underlying mechanism. Our results showed a dramatic reduction in pro-inflammatory cytokines within days of NIR light treatment, while anti-inflammatory cytokines were upregulated. Mechanistically, NIR light stimulated mitochondrial metabolism, induced transient bursts in reactive oxygen species (ROS) and activated antioxidant gene transcription. These, in turn, downregulated ROS and inflammatory cytokines. A causal relationship was shown between the induction of cellular ROS by NIR light exposure and the downregulation of inflammatory cytokines triggered by SARS-CoV-2 S. If confirmed by clinical trials, this method would provide an immediate defense against novel SARS-CoV-2 variants and other inflammatory infectious diseases.
SARS-CoV-2导致死亡的主要原因是宿主免疫反应过度，引发细胞因子风暴、多器官衰竭和死亡。目前基于药物和疫苗的疗法对新型病毒变体的疗效有限。红外疗法是一种非侵入性的安全方法，100多年来已被证明对炎症性疾病有效。然而，其作用机制尚不清楚，也未得到广泛认可。我们在此研究在人原代肺泡细胞和巨噬细胞中暴露近红外（NIR）光是否能下调由SARS-CoV-2刺突（S）蛋白或脂多糖（LPS）触发的炎性细胞因子，以及通过何种潜在机制。我们的结果显示，在近红外光治疗数天内，促炎细胞因子显著减少，而抗炎细胞因子上调。从机制上讲，近红外光刺激线粒体代谢，诱导活性氧（ROS）短暂爆发，并激活抗氧化基因转录。这些反过来又下调了ROS和炎性细胞因子。近红外光暴露诱导细胞ROS与SARS-CoV-2 S触发的炎性细胞因子下调之间存在因果关系。如果临床试验证实，这种方法将为新型SARS-CoV-2变体和其他炎性传染病提供即时防御。
