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Biology
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New Aspects of Light in Biology and Medicine
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New Aspects of Light in Biology and Medicine

A special issue of Biology (ISSN 2079-7737).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2021) | Viewed by 12592

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Marcus Krüger

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Environmental Cell Biology Group, Department of Microgravity and Translational Regenerative Medicine, Otto von Guericke University, 39106 Magdeburg, Germany
Interests: cell biology; cancer biology; environmental influences; microgravity; cellular communication; photodynamic therapy; cancer treatment; antimicrobial resistance; tumor microbiome
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Sebastian M. Strauch

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Postgraduate Program in Health and Environment, University of the Region of Joinville - Univille, Rua Paulo Malschitzki 10, Joinville 89219–710, Brazil
Interests: chlorophyll; gravitational biology; phytoplankton; photodynamic therapy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Peter Richter

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Gravitational Biology Group, Department of Biology, Cell Biology Division, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
Interests: cell biology; plant physiology; photodynamic therapy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Almost all life depends on light in some way. Photosynthesis is one of the most important biochemical processes for life on Earth, building the ultimate basis for the food we eat. Plant growth and development is highly dependent on light. In addition, many organisms use light in basic sensory mechanisms for guiding their behavior, either through the complex process of animal vision or via the more simple photosensitivity of unicellular organisms. However, light has increasingly medicinal implications, not only as a cause of disease (UV damage), but also as a therapeutic agent (e.g., in form of phototherapy against seasonal affective disorder or as photodynamic therapy of cancer). Light therapy has also been used on an experimental basis to treat eating disorder and people with Parkinson's disease. Furthermore, the photobiological synthesis of (noble) metal nanoparticles using plants and algae is a current research field in biotechnology. These are only a few examples of the ongoing multidisciplinary research in photobiology involving branches of biology, chemistry, physics, and medicine.

This Special Issue will contain a selection of papers highlighting recent advances in the various disciplines of photobiology, helping us to provide a representative sample of much of what is new in this exciting field of science. We welcome the submission of original research, short communications, and review manuscripts focusing on the biological effects of light on organisms (including humans).

Dr. Marcus Krüger
Dr. Sebastian M. Strauch
Dr. Peter Richter
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Biology is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • photobiology
  • phototherapy/light therapy
  • photodynamics
  • photosynthesis
  • photomodulation
  • photosensitization
  • photomorphogenesis

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 4031 KiB  
Article
Blue Laser Irradiation Decreases the ATP Level in Mouse Skin and Increases the Production of Superoxide Anion and Hypochlorous Acid in Mouse Fibroblasts
by Eiko Nakayama, Toshihiro Kushibiki, Yoshine Mayumi, Ryuichi Azuma, Miya Ishihara and Tomoharu Kiyosawa
Biology 2022, 11(2), 301; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology11020301 - 12 Feb 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3015
Abstract
Photobiomodulation studies have reported that blue light irradiation induces the production of reactive oxygen species. We investigated the effect of blue laser (405 nm) irradiation on the ATP levels in mouse skin and determined the types of reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen [...] Read more.
Photobiomodulation studies have reported that blue light irradiation induces the production of reactive oxygen species. We investigated the effect of blue laser (405 nm) irradiation on the ATP levels in mouse skin and determined the types of reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen species using cultured mouse fibroblasts. Blue laser irradiation caused a decrease in the ATP level in the mouse skin and triggered the generation of superoxide anion and hypochlorous acid, whereas nitric oxide and peroxynitrite were not detected. Moreover, blue laser irradiation resulted in reduced cell viability. It is believed that the decrease in the skin ATP level due to blue light irradiation results from the increased levels of oxidative stress due to the generation of reactive oxygen species. This method of systematically measuring the levels of reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen species may be useful for understanding the effects of irradiation conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Aspects of Light in Biology and Medicine)
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10 pages, 1003 KiB  
Article
Bright Light Therapy for Parkinson Disease: A Literature Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
by Hsu-Tung Huang, Tsai-Wei Huang and Chien-Tai Hong
Biology 2021, 10(11), 1205; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology10111205 - 19 Nov 2021
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3473
Abstract
Sleep disorders and depression are significant nonmotor symptoms (NMSs) of Parkinson disease (PD). However, few effective, evidence-proven medical treatments are available for alleviating these symptoms. Bright light therapy (BLT) is a well-established treatment for circadian rhythm sleep disorders and seasonal affective disorder. The [...] Read more.
Sleep disorders and depression are significant nonmotor symptoms (NMSs) of Parkinson disease (PD). However, few effective, evidence-proven medical treatments are available for alleviating these symptoms. Bright light therapy (BLT) is a well-established treatment for circadian rhythm sleep disorders and seasonal affective disorder. The present study conducted a literature review for the effect of BLT on PD, especially a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). We searched for studies using the PubMed and Cochrane Library databases. The major outcomes were the effects on sleep and depression. The effect on motor symptoms was also analyzed as a secondary outcome. This study was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42020204454). Six studies were included in the literature review only, and the other five RCTs were included in the meta-analysis. Despite the positive effects of BLT on PD patients, which were demonstrated in noncontrolled studies, in the meta-analysis of the RCTs, BLT did not significantly improve the depressive symptoms (standardized mean difference (SMD): −0.15, 95% confidence interval (CI): −0.48 to 0.17, p = 0.36) and excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) (SMD: −0.12, 95% CI: −0.49 to 0.25, p = 0.53) in PD patients. Regarding motor symptoms, no significant beneficial effects were conferred (SMD: −0.11, 95% CI: −0.44 to 0.21, p = 0.49). In conclusion, BLT did not significantly alleviate depression and sleepiness. The inconsistency between BLT protocols, such as the varied timing, dosages, and treatment durations, may render BLT’s efficacy difficult to demonstrate. The small effect size obtained from the present meta-analysis indicates that future RCTs are necessary, for which BLT protocols are standardized and more patients are enrolled to determine whether a significant therapeutic benefit was conferred. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Aspects of Light in Biology and Medicine)
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13 pages, 2868 KiB  
Article
Assessment of 5-Aminolevulinic Acid-Mediated Photodynamic Therapy on Bone Metastases: An in Vitro Study
by Saskia Magdalen Sachsenmaier, Frank Traub, Anna Cykowska, Rosa Riester, Nikolaus Wülker, Christian Walter and Marina Danalache
Biology 2021, 10(10), 1020; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology10101020 - 9 Oct 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2312
Abstract
Bone is a frequent site of metastases, being typically associated with a short-term prognosis in affected patients. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) emerges as a promising alternative treatment for controlling malignant disease that can directly target interstitial metastatic lesions. The aim of this study was [...] Read more.
Bone is a frequent site of metastases, being typically associated with a short-term prognosis in affected patients. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) emerges as a promising alternative treatment for controlling malignant disease that can directly target interstitial metastatic lesions. The aim of this study was to assess the effect induced by PDT treatment on both primary (giant cell bone tumor) and human bone metastatic cancer cell lines (derived from a primary invasive ductal breast carcinoma and renal carcinoma). After 24 h post light delivery (blue light-wavelength 436 nm) with 5-aminolevulinic acid, the effect on cellular migration, viability, apoptosis, and senescence were assessed. Our results showed that bone metastasis derived from breast cancer reacted with an inhibition of cell migration coupled with reduced viability and signs of apoptosis such as nuclei fragmentation following PDT exposure. A limited effect in terms of cellular viability inhibition was observed for the cells of giant cell bone tumors. In contrast, bone metastasis derived from renal carcinoma followed a different fate—cells were characterized by senescent features, without a notable effect on cell migration or viability. Collectively, our study illustrates that PDT could act as a successful therapy concept for local tumor control in some entities of bone metastases. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Aspects of Light in Biology and Medicine)
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11 pages, 1815 KiB  
Communication
Absence of Light Exposure Increases Pathogenicity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Pneumonia-Associated Clinical Isolates
by Cristina S. Mesquita, Artur Ribeiro, Andreia C. Gomes and Pedro M. Santos
Biology 2021, 10(9), 837; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology10090837 - 27 Aug 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2627
Abstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa can alter its lifestyle in response to changes in environmental conditions. The switch to a pathogenic host-associated lifestyle can be triggered by the luminosity settings, resorting to at least one photoreceptor which senses light and regulates cellular processes. This study aimed [...] Read more.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa can alter its lifestyle in response to changes in environmental conditions. The switch to a pathogenic host-associated lifestyle can be triggered by the luminosity settings, resorting to at least one photoreceptor which senses light and regulates cellular processes. This study aimed to address how light exposure affects the dynamic and adaptability of two P. aeruginosa pneumonia-associated isolates, HB13 and HB15. A phenotypic characterization of two opposing growth conditions, constant illumination and intensity of full-spectrum light and total absence of light, was performed. Given the nature of P. aeruginosa pathogenicity, distinct fractions were characterized, and its inherent pathogenic potential screened by comparing induced morphological alterations and cytotoxicity against human pulmonary epithelial cells (A549 cell line). Growth in the dark promoted some virulence-associated traits (e.g., pigment production, LasA proteolytic activity), which, together with higher cytotoxicity of secreted fractions, supported an increased pathogenic potential in conditions that better mimic the lung microenvironment of P. aeruginosa. These preliminary findings evidenced that light exposure settings may influence the P. aeruginosa pathogenic potential, likely owing to differential production of virulence factors. Thus, this study raised awareness towards the importance in controlling light conditions during bacterial pathogenicity evaluation approaches, to more accurately interpret bacterial responses. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Aspects of Light in Biology and Medicine)
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