Evaluation of Photobiogoverning Role of Blue Light Irradiation on Viral Replication

Abstract

Most recently, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 has triggered a global pandemic without successful therapeutics. The goal of the present study was to define the antiviral effect and therapeutic action of blue light irradiation in SARS-CoV-2-infected cells. Vero cells were infected with SARS-CoV-2 (NCCP43326) or mock inoculum at 50 pfu/well. After blue light irradiation, the inhibitory effect was assessed by qPCR and plaque reduction assay. When Vero cells were irradiated to blue light ranging from 1.6 to 10 J cm À2 , SARS-CoV-2 replication was inhibited by up to 80%. The antiviral effect of blue light irradiation was associated with translation suppression via the phosphorylation of eIF2a by prolonging endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. The levels of LC3A/B and Beclin-1, which are key markers of autophagy, and the levels of PERK and PDI for ER stress were highly increased, whereas caspase-3 cleavage was inhibited after blue light irradiation in the later stage of infection. Our data revealed that blue light irradiation exerted antiviral and photo-biogoverning activities by prolonging ER stress and stimulating autophagy progression during viral infection. The findings increase our understanding of how photo-energy acts on viral progression and have implications for use in therapeutic strategies against COVID-19.Abbreviations: SARS-CoV-2, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2; 2-DE/MALDI-TOF, 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis/matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionizationtime of flight; ER, endoplasmic reticulum; LC3, light chain 3; PERK, protein kinase RNA-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase; PDI, protein disulfide isomerase; LASP-1, LIM and SH3 domain protein 1; TCTP, translationally controlled tumor protein; ENO-1, alpha-enolase; NAC, N-acetylcysteine; eIF2a, eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 alpha.

Blue light irradiation exerts anti-viral and anti-inflammatory properties against herpes simplex virus type 1 infection

“…ICP34.5 mutant-HSV-1 was shown to have reduced pathogenicity in mice [ 43 ]. Previously, our results revealed continued induction of the autophagic process and prolonged activation of ER stress after the BL irradiation in SARS-CoV-2-infected cells [ 32 ]. As the difference between previous and present data relies on targeting intracellular components and viral species (e.g.…”

“…Especially, low-level BL exerted anti-proliferative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-metastatic effects, whereas high-level BL induced the apoptosis of cancer cells depending on the number of irradiating photons. More recently, photo-biogoverning properties and the relevant mechanism of the action of BL on the replication of the SARS-CoV-2 virus have been confirmed [ 32 ]. However, the interaction between photo-energy and immune cells engaged in viral infection has not been reported.…”

Blue Laser Light Counteracts HSV-1 in the SH-SY5Y Neuronal Cell Model of Infection

“…Our results failed to highlight an antiviral effect in already-infected cells as the three papers cited above showed, however the different virus strains treated, and the different devices employed, could account for the results. Indeed, Oh et al [25] observed a partial selectivity in the blue light's action.…”

“…This suggested that blue light possesses some degree of selectivity. Moreover, Oh et al [25], showing the antiviral effect of blue light on SARS-CoV-2 already-infected cells (450 nm, 5.56 mW/cm 2 , 1.6, 5, 10 J/cm 2 ), reported that an antiviral effect was associated with reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, endoplasmic reticulum stress and autophagy progression, inhibiting apoptosis and promoting cell survival. These studies employed minor irradiance with respect to those employed in the current study (0.1 W/cm 2 ), nevertheless the fluence (3 J/cm 2 ) was comparable [25] or higher [12,24].…”

“…Moreover, Oh et al [25], showing the antiviral effect of blue light on SARS-CoV-2 already-infected cells (450 nm, 5.56 mW/cm 2 , 1.6, 5, 10 J/cm 2 ), reported that an antiviral effect was associated with reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, endoplasmic reticulum stress and autophagy progression, inhibiting apoptosis and promoting cell survival. These studies employed minor irradiance with respect to those employed in the current study (0.1 W/cm 2 ), nevertheless the fluence (3 J/cm 2 ) was comparable [25] or higher [12,24]. Our results failed to highlight an antiviral effect in already-infected cells as the three papers cited above showed, however the different virus strains treated, and the different devices employed, could account for the results.…”