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Effects of light-emitting diodes irradiation on human vascular endothelial cells

International Journal of Impotence Research volume 30, pages 312–317 (2018)Cite this article

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Abstract

Endothelial cell proliferation is a hallmark of angiogenesis and plays a key role in the process of tissue repair. Low-intensity (670 nm) laser irradiation influences endothelial cell proliferation in vitro. Light in the near infrared spectrum may have clinical applications in erectile dysfunction. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of irradiation with light-emitting diodes (LEDs) at different wavelengths on human vascular endothelial cells in vitro. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were irradiated with LEDs at 410, 480, 595, and 630 nm in doses of 1, 2.5, 5, and 10 J/cm2. After 24 h of LED irradiation, effects on cell viability, nitric oxide (NO) secretion, and eNOS expression were assessed by using cell viability assays, Western blot, and real time-polymerase chain reaction, respectively. The cell viability assay demonstrated that irradiation with LEDs at 630 nm significantly increased the proliferation of HUVECs. In addition, irradiation with LEDs at 630 nm was more effective in stimulating NO secretion and eNOS expression from HUVECs than irradiation with LEDs at 410, 480, and 595 nm. Irradiation with LEDs at 630 nm was effective for inducing cell proliferation, NO secretion, and eNOS expression in HUVECs. These results suggest that irradiation with LEDs at 630 nm may be a therapeutic strategy for vasculogenic erectile dysfunction.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by a grant (CRI14013-1) Chonnam National University Hospital Biomedical Research Institute. We thank Ms. Jennifer Holmes for assistance in editing the text.

Author contributions

Category 1 (a) Conception and Design Kwangsung Park (b) Acquisition of Data Jinju Park, Hyun-Suk Lee (c) Analysis and Interpretation of Data Kyung-Jin Oh, Hyun-Suk Lee, Kwangsung Park Category 2 (a) Drafting the Article Kyung-Jin Oh (b) Revising It for Intellectual Content Kwangsung Park Category 3 (a) Final Approval of the Completed Article Kwangsung Park.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Urology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea

    Kyung-Jin Oh & Kwangsung Park

  2. Sexual Medicine Research Center, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Korea

    Jinju Park, Hyun-Suk Lee & Kwangsung Park

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  1. Kyung-Jin Oh
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Correspondence to Kwangsung Park.

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Oh, KJ., Park, J., Lee, HS. et al. Effects of light-emitting diodes irradiation on human vascular endothelial cells. Int J Impot Res 30, 312–317 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41443-018-0051-5

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