Blue light-emitting diode phototherapy presents in vitro efficacy against distinct Leishmania species and is therapeutic against tegumentary leishmaniasis in BALB/c mice
The treatment of tegumentary leishmaniasis (TL) faces significant challenges, including drug toxicity, high costs, and the emergence of resistant strains. These limitations highlight the urgent need for novel antileishmanial agents and therapeutic strategies. This study evaluated blue light-emitting...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-05-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Immunology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1554051/full |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850279914696081408 |
|---|---|
| author | Breno Luiz Pimenta Breno Luiz Pimenta Daniela Pagliara Lage Camila Simões de Freitas Danniele Luciana Vale Karolina Oliveira de Melo Falcão Saulo Samuel Gonçalves Dias Raquel Soares Bandeira Câmara Isabela Amorim Gonçalves Pereira Ana Luiza Silva Lauro de Assis Duarte Júnior Lauro de Assis Duarte Júnior Miguel Angel Chavez-Fumagalli Rodrigo Fernando Bianchi Eduardo Antonio Ferraz Coelho Eduardo Antonio Ferraz Coelho André Talvani André Talvani |
| author_facet | Breno Luiz Pimenta Breno Luiz Pimenta Daniela Pagliara Lage Camila Simões de Freitas Danniele Luciana Vale Karolina Oliveira de Melo Falcão Saulo Samuel Gonçalves Dias Raquel Soares Bandeira Câmara Isabela Amorim Gonçalves Pereira Ana Luiza Silva Lauro de Assis Duarte Júnior Lauro de Assis Duarte Júnior Miguel Angel Chavez-Fumagalli Rodrigo Fernando Bianchi Eduardo Antonio Ferraz Coelho Eduardo Antonio Ferraz Coelho André Talvani André Talvani |
| author_sort | Breno Luiz Pimenta |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The treatment of tegumentary leishmaniasis (TL) faces significant challenges, including drug toxicity, high costs, and the emergence of resistant strains. These limitations highlight the urgent need for novel antileishmanial agents and therapeutic strategies. This study evaluated blue light-emitting diode (LED) phototherapy as an alternative approach to inhibit Leishmania stationary promastigotes and treat infected mammalian models. In vitro assays using Leishmania amazonensis, L. braziliensis, and L. infantum demonstrated that blue LED significantly inhibited parasite growth during and after treatment, with inhibition levels comparable to those achieved with amphotericin B (AmpB). Treatment of infected macrophages with blue LED substantially reduced infection rates and amastigote recovery across all three parasite species. Ultrastructural analyses revealed the destruction of internal organelles and alterations to the surface membranes of all Leishmania species following blue LED exposure. In in vivo experiments, L. amazonensis-infected BALB/c mice were treated with AmpB, blue LED alone, combination of blue LED plus AmpB, or saline as a control. Animals treated with blue LED, particularly in combination with AmpB, exhibited significant reductions in parasite loads in infected tissues such as lesions, spleens, livers, and draining lymph nodes, as confirmed by limiting dilution assays and qPCR. Additionally, these treatments induced a robust antileishmanial Th1-type immune response, characterized by increased production of IFN-γ, IL-12, nitrite, and IgG2a antibodies. These findings suggest that blue LED phototherapy holds promise as a potential therapeutic strategy for TL and warrants further investigation in future studies. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b54486d7e2394691a53dfa81d8a2ee0f |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1664-3224 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Immunology |
| spelling | doaj-art-b54486d7e2394691a53dfa81d8a2ee0f2025-08-20T01:48:57ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Immunology1664-32242025-05-011610.3389/fimmu.2025.15540511554051Blue light-emitting diode phototherapy presents in vitro efficacy against distinct Leishmania species and is therapeutic against tegumentary leishmaniasis in BALB/c miceBreno Luiz Pimenta0Breno Luiz Pimenta1Daniela Pagliara Lage2Camila Simões de Freitas3Danniele Luciana Vale4Karolina Oliveira de Melo Falcão5Saulo Samuel Gonçalves Dias6Raquel Soares Bandeira Câmara7Isabela Amorim Gonçalves Pereira8Ana Luiza Silva9Lauro de Assis Duarte Júnior10Lauro de Assis Duarte Júnior11Miguel Angel Chavez-Fumagalli12Rodrigo Fernando Bianchi13Eduardo Antonio Ferraz Coelho14Eduardo Antonio Ferraz Coelho15André Talvani16André Talvani17Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde: Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, BrazilLaboratório de Imunobiologia da Inflamação, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Instituto de Ciências Exatas e Biológicas (ICEB), Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, BrazilPrograma de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde: Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, BrazilPrograma de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde: Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, BrazilPrograma de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde: Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, BrazilDepartamento de Patologia Clínica, Colégio Técnico da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, BrazilDepartamento de Patologia Clínica, Colégio Técnico da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, BrazilPrograma de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde: Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, BrazilPrograma de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde: Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, BrazilPrograma de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde: Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, BrazilLaboratório de Imunobiologia da Inflamação, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Instituto de Ciências Exatas e Biológicas (ICEB), Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, BrazilLaboratório de Polímeros e Propriedades Eletrônicas de Materiais, Instituto de Ciências Exatas e Biológicas (ICEB), Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, BrazilComputational Biology and Chemistry Research Group, Vicerrectorado de Investigación, Universidad Católica de Santa María, Arequipa, PeruLaboratório de Polímeros e Propriedades Eletrônicas de Materiais, Instituto de Ciências Exatas e Biológicas (ICEB), Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, BrazilPrograma de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde: Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, BrazilDepartamento de Patologia Clínica, Colégio Técnico da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, BrazilPrograma de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde: Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, BrazilLaboratório de Imunobiologia da Inflamação, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Instituto de Ciências Exatas e Biológicas (ICEB), Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, BrazilThe treatment of tegumentary leishmaniasis (TL) faces significant challenges, including drug toxicity, high costs, and the emergence of resistant strains. These limitations highlight the urgent need for novel antileishmanial agents and therapeutic strategies. This study evaluated blue light-emitting diode (LED) phototherapy as an alternative approach to inhibit Leishmania stationary promastigotes and treat infected mammalian models. In vitro assays using Leishmania amazonensis, L. braziliensis, and L. infantum demonstrated that blue LED significantly inhibited parasite growth during and after treatment, with inhibition levels comparable to those achieved with amphotericin B (AmpB). Treatment of infected macrophages with blue LED substantially reduced infection rates and amastigote recovery across all three parasite species. Ultrastructural analyses revealed the destruction of internal organelles and alterations to the surface membranes of all Leishmania species following blue LED exposure. In in vivo experiments, L. amazonensis-infected BALB/c mice were treated with AmpB, blue LED alone, combination of blue LED plus AmpB, or saline as a control. Animals treated with blue LED, particularly in combination with AmpB, exhibited significant reductions in parasite loads in infected tissues such as lesions, spleens, livers, and draining lymph nodes, as confirmed by limiting dilution assays and qPCR. Additionally, these treatments induced a robust antileishmanial Th1-type immune response, characterized by increased production of IFN-γ, IL-12, nitrite, and IgG2a antibodies. These findings suggest that blue LED phototherapy holds promise as a potential therapeutic strategy for TL and warrants further investigation in future studies.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1554051/fullblue LED phototherapytegumentary leishmaniasistreatmentamphotericin Bimmune responseantileishmanial activity |
| spellingShingle | Breno Luiz Pimenta Breno Luiz Pimenta Daniela Pagliara Lage Camila Simões de Freitas Danniele Luciana Vale Karolina Oliveira de Melo Falcão Saulo Samuel Gonçalves Dias Raquel Soares Bandeira Câmara Isabela Amorim Gonçalves Pereira Ana Luiza Silva Lauro de Assis Duarte Júnior Lauro de Assis Duarte Júnior Miguel Angel Chavez-Fumagalli Rodrigo Fernando Bianchi Eduardo Antonio Ferraz Coelho Eduardo Antonio Ferraz Coelho André Talvani André Talvani Blue light-emitting diode phototherapy presents in vitro efficacy against distinct Leishmania species and is therapeutic against tegumentary leishmaniasis in BALB/c mice Frontiers in Immunology blue LED phototherapy tegumentary leishmaniasis treatment amphotericin B immune response antileishmanial activity |
| title | Blue light-emitting diode phototherapy presents in vitro efficacy against distinct Leishmania species and is therapeutic against tegumentary leishmaniasis in BALB/c mice |
| title_full | Blue light-emitting diode phototherapy presents in vitro efficacy against distinct Leishmania species and is therapeutic against tegumentary leishmaniasis in BALB/c mice |
| title_fullStr | Blue light-emitting diode phototherapy presents in vitro efficacy against distinct Leishmania species and is therapeutic against tegumentary leishmaniasis in BALB/c mice |
| title_full_unstemmed | Blue light-emitting diode phototherapy presents in vitro efficacy against distinct Leishmania species and is therapeutic against tegumentary leishmaniasis in BALB/c mice |
| title_short | Blue light-emitting diode phototherapy presents in vitro efficacy against distinct Leishmania species and is therapeutic against tegumentary leishmaniasis in BALB/c mice |
| title_sort | blue light emitting diode phototherapy presents in vitro efficacy against distinct leishmania species and is therapeutic against tegumentary leishmaniasis in balb c mice |
| topic | blue LED phototherapy tegumentary leishmaniasis treatment amphotericin B immune response antileishmanial activity |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1554051/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT brenoluizpimenta bluelightemittingdiodephototherapypresentsinvitroefficacyagainstdistinctleishmaniaspeciesandistherapeuticagainsttegumentaryleishmaniasisinbalbcmice AT brenoluizpimenta bluelightemittingdiodephototherapypresentsinvitroefficacyagainstdistinctleishmaniaspeciesandistherapeuticagainsttegumentaryleishmaniasisinbalbcmice AT danielapagliaralage bluelightemittingdiodephototherapypresentsinvitroefficacyagainstdistinctleishmaniaspeciesandistherapeuticagainsttegumentaryleishmaniasisinbalbcmice AT camilasimoesdefreitas bluelightemittingdiodephototherapypresentsinvitroefficacyagainstdistinctleishmaniaspeciesandistherapeuticagainsttegumentaryleishmaniasisinbalbcmice AT dannielelucianavale bluelightemittingdiodephototherapypresentsinvitroefficacyagainstdistinctleishmaniaspeciesandistherapeuticagainsttegumentaryleishmaniasisinbalbcmice AT karolinaoliveirademelofalcao bluelightemittingdiodephototherapypresentsinvitroefficacyagainstdistinctleishmaniaspeciesandistherapeuticagainsttegumentaryleishmaniasisinbalbcmice AT saulosamuelgoncalvesdias bluelightemittingdiodephototherapypresentsinvitroefficacyagainstdistinctleishmaniaspeciesandistherapeuticagainsttegumentaryleishmaniasisinbalbcmice AT raquelsoaresbandeiracamara bluelightemittingdiodephototherapypresentsinvitroefficacyagainstdistinctleishmaniaspeciesandistherapeuticagainsttegumentaryleishmaniasisinbalbcmice AT isabelaamorimgoncalvespereira bluelightemittingdiodephototherapypresentsinvitroefficacyagainstdistinctleishmaniaspeciesandistherapeuticagainsttegumentaryleishmaniasisinbalbcmice AT analuizasilva bluelightemittingdiodephototherapypresentsinvitroefficacyagainstdistinctleishmaniaspeciesandistherapeuticagainsttegumentaryleishmaniasisinbalbcmice AT laurodeassisduartejunior bluelightemittingdiodephototherapypresentsinvitroefficacyagainstdistinctleishmaniaspeciesandistherapeuticagainsttegumentaryleishmaniasisinbalbcmice AT laurodeassisduartejunior bluelightemittingdiodephototherapypresentsinvitroefficacyagainstdistinctleishmaniaspeciesandistherapeuticagainsttegumentaryleishmaniasisinbalbcmice AT miguelangelchavezfumagalli bluelightemittingdiodephototherapypresentsinvitroefficacyagainstdistinctleishmaniaspeciesandistherapeuticagainsttegumentaryleishmaniasisinbalbcmice AT rodrigofernandobianchi bluelightemittingdiodephototherapypresentsinvitroefficacyagainstdistinctleishmaniaspeciesandistherapeuticagainsttegumentaryleishmaniasisinbalbcmice AT eduardoantonioferrazcoelho bluelightemittingdiodephototherapypresentsinvitroefficacyagainstdistinctleishmaniaspeciesandistherapeuticagainsttegumentaryleishmaniasisinbalbcmice AT eduardoantonioferrazcoelho bluelightemittingdiodephototherapypresentsinvitroefficacyagainstdistinctleishmaniaspeciesandistherapeuticagainsttegumentaryleishmaniasisinbalbcmice AT andretalvani bluelightemittingdiodephototherapypresentsinvitroefficacyagainstdistinctleishmaniaspeciesandistherapeuticagainsttegumentaryleishmaniasisinbalbcmice AT andretalvani bluelightemittingdiodephototherapypresentsinvitroefficacyagainstdistinctleishmaniaspeciesandistherapeuticagainsttegumentaryleishmaniasisinbalbcmice |