PHOTOMODULATORY EFFECTS ON INSULIN SECRETING BETA CELLS

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disease characterized by increased blood glucose levels and affects more than 8% of people worldwide (Rutter et. al, 2015). Typically, diabetes is divided into two large subcategories: type 1 diabetes (T1D) and type 2 diabetes (T2D). T1D is an autoimmune disorder caused by the attack of insulin secreting cells by t-cell mediated inflammatory response (Khrraoubi & Darwish, 2015). Currently, islet transplants offer a clinical treatment for restoration of glucose control. However, the current procedure may not be optimal as many transplanted islets do not survive because of the stresses induced during the process (Miki et. al, 2017). Photobiomodulation (PBM) has shown to have antioxidant capabilities in different cell types (Hamblin, 2017). Because a reduction of stress in islets may lead to improved functionality, PBM could enhance insulin secretion. Using mouse insulinoma -cells as a model, the current study is aimed at demonstrating the capability of PBM to increase the protective antioxidant activity and to validate an enhanced insulin secretion. Finally, we tested the hypothesis that the rates of photoenergy delivered to the cells modulate the PBM-induced effects in -cells.