Low‐level Laser (Light) Therapy Increases Mitochondrial Membrane Potential and ATP Synthesis in C2C12 Myotubes with a Peak Response at 3–6 h

Abstract

Low level laser (light) therapy has been used before exercise to increase muscle performance in both experimental animals and in humans. However uncertainty exists concerning the optimum time to apply the light before exercise. The mechanism of action is thought to be stimulation of mitochondrial respiration in muscles, and to increase adenosine triphosphate (ATP) needed to perform exercise. The goal of this study was to investigate the time course of the increases in mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and ATP in myotubes formed from C2C12 mouse muscle cells and exposed to light-emitting diode therapy (LEDT). LEDT employed a cluster of LEDs with 20 red (630 ± 10 nm, 25 mW) and 20 near-infrared (850 ± 10 nm, 50 mW) delivering 28 mW/cm2 for 90 sec (2.5 J/cm2) with analysis at 5 min, 3 h, 6 h and 24 h post-LEDT. LEDT-6h had the highest MMP, followed by LEDT-3h, LEDT-24h, LEDT-5min and Control with significant differences. The same order (6h>3h>24h>5min>Control) was found for ATP with significant differences. A good correlation was found (r=0.89) between MMP and ATP. These data suggest an optimum time window of 3-6 h for LEDT stimulate muscle cells.

Acute LED irradiation does not change the anaerobic capacity and time to exhaustion during a high-intensity running effort: a double-blind, crossover, and placebo-controlled study

“…In this way, some recent studies have reported improvement in performance after acute photobiomodulation [3,6,7]; however, the effects of photobiomodulation therapy on a high-intensity effort are still unclear [8], and based on the increase in ATP production [2], phosphocreatine resynthesis [4], and reduction in blood lactate concentration ([La − ]) [4,5], it is possible to assume that photobiomodulation therapy could also improve the high-intensity effort such as through the anaerobic capacity and time to exhaustion in a supramaximal effort.…”

“…Its effect has been associated with electron transport chain activity, increasing the oxidative metabolism and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production [2], causing changes in the oxygen kinetics [3], phosphocreatine resynthesis [4], lactate production [4,5], and microcirculation [6], contributing to increases in the supply of energetic substrate in the muscle.…”

Transcranial Low-Level Laser Therapy for Depression and Alzheimer’s Disease

“…Transcranial LLLT promotes ATP biosynthesis and increases the expression level and activity of mitochondrial complex IV in mice prefrontal cortex in depressive mouse model [4]. To support this idea, Ferraresi et al illuminated that LLLT increases mitochondrial membrane potential and ATP synthesis in C2C12 myotubes [44]. Therefore, the therapeutic mechanism of LLLT on depression may be associated with an increase of ATP-production caused by low-level laser irradiation (LLLI) (Figure 2).…”

Effects of Low-Level Laser Therapy Applied Before Treadmill Training on Recovery of Injured Skeletal Muscle in Wistar Rats

“…Moreover, a recent study 41 has demonstrated that 3-6 h could be an optimum time to apply phototherapy in order to improve muscle metabolism before exercise. This study has also suggested possible cumulative effects if the illumination is applied at intervals of <24 h for muscle recovery after exercise.…”