Analgesic Effect of Light‐Emitting Diode (LED) Therapy at Wavelengths of 635 and 945 nm on Bothrops moojeni Venom‐Induced Hyperalgesia

Abstract

Envenoming induced by Bothrops snakes is characterized by drastic local tissue damage involving hemorrhage, myonecrosis and proeminent inflammatory and hyperalgesic response. The most effective treatment is antivenom therapy, which is ineffective in neutralizing the local response. Herein, it was evaluated the effectiveness of light-emitting diode (LED) at wavelengths of 635 and 945 nm in reducing inflammatory hyperalgesia induced by Bothrops moojeni venom (BmV) in mice, produced by an subplantar injection of BmV (1 μg). Mechanical hyperalgesia and allodynia were assessed by von Frey filaments at 1, 3, 6 and 24 h after venom injection. The site of BmV injection (1.2 cm(2) ) was irradiated by LEDs at 30 min and 3 h after venom inoculation. Both 635 nm (110 mW, fluence of 3.76 J/cm(2) and 41 s of irradiation time) and 945 nm (120 mW, fluence of 3.8 J/cm(2) and 38 s of irradiation time) LED inhibited mechanical allodynia and hyperalgesia of mice alone or in combination with antivenom treatment, even when the symptoms were already present. The effect of phototherapy in reducing local pain induced by BmV should be considered as a novel therapeutic tool for the treatment of local symptoms induced after bothropic snake bites.

Analgesic Effect of Photobiomodulation on Bothrops Moojeni Venom-Induced Hyperalgesia: A Mechanism Dependent on Neuronal Inhibition, Cytokines and Kinin Receptors Modulation

“…Herein, the intraplantar injection of Bmv induced mechanical allodynia and hyperalgesia. These results are in accordance with previous data demonstrating that Bmv induces potent mechanical allodynia and hyperalgesia in mice [ 24 , 30 ]. Photobiomodulation applied 30 min and 3 h after Bmv reversed both mechanical allodynia and hyperalgesia.…”

“…From these data, we confirmed that photobiomodulation, in fact, is effective in reducing Bmv-induced local pain. In our study, as in previous studies [ 24 , 30 ], we observed that antinociception was not related to AV treatment, since it was not able to interfere with mechanical sensitivity of mice. Also, the association of LLLT and AV did not modify the effect of LLLT alone, reinforcing the therapeutic potential of LLL in treating local effects induced by bothrops venoms.…”

“…Photobiomodulation has also proven to be an interesting and efficient complementary alternative for the treatment of local effects caused by bothropic venom through the ability of decreasing the observed local effects, such as myonecrosis [ 17 , 18 ]; inflammation [ 19 – 22 ] hemorrhage [ 21 ] and pain [ 20 , 23 ]. In this context, we have recently demonstrated that photobiostimulation with LLLT and light emitting diode (LED) reverse edema formation, local hemorrhage and inflammatory hyperalgesia induced by Bohtrops moojeni venom (BmV) in mice [ 18 , 24 ].…”

The Search for Natural and Synthetic Inhibitors That Would Complement Antivenoms as Therapeutics for Snakebite Envenoming

“…snake venoms (see review by Silva et al, 2018 [ 209 ]). These studies have demonstrated that these therapies, when applied after venom injection in animals, reduced venom-induced local effects such as edema [ 210 , 211 ], hyperalgesia [ 211 , 212 ], hemorrhage [ 213 ], and myonecrosis [ 211 , 214 , 215 ].…”

Photobiostimulation reduces edema formation induced in mice by Lys-49 phospholipases A2 isolated from Bothrops moojeni venom

“…This proposal is based on the literature that shows a reduction of the local effects induced by various Bothrops snake venoms after photobiostimulation such as myonecrosis , 18,19 inflammation, [20][21][22] hemorrhage 22 and pain. 21,23 Moreover, Barbosa et al (2010) 24 reported that LLL treatment significantly reduced the muscle edema, leukocyte influx and myonecrosis induced by BthTX-I or -II isolated from B. jararacussu snake venom.…”