Effects of high and low doses of He:Ne laser irradiation on human lymphocytes in vitro

Low level laser irradiation [LLLI] can cause cell proliferation, differentiation, or death; however, the cellular mechanisms of these effects of LLLI, at high or low fluences. The exact mechanism of action of the laser radiation with living cells is not yet understood. Since He:Ne has been shown to increase mitochondrial respiration it is relevant to study the effect of different high and low laser fluencies on mitochondrial proteins involved in apoptosis. The aim of this work was to study safety aspects of the effect of different high and low He:Ne laser fluencies on mitochondrial proteins involved in apoptosis. Expression of Bax mRNA and Bcl-2 lymphocytes together with mitotic index and viability percentage together with the frequency of micronuclei were evaluated after exposing cells with a 10 mW He-Ne laser [wavelength 632.8 nm] at energy densities of 1, 2.5, 5, 10, 35 and 60 J/cm[2]. At low level He:Ne laser irradiation induced a significant increase in Bcl-2 and an increase in viable cell percentage. However, at moderate dose there was an increase in Bax mRNA expression and decrease in viability percentage at doses ranging from 15 -60 J /cm[2]. Bcl-2 family proteins are stimulated by He:Ne laser irradiation, which is safe at doses below 10 J /cm[2] and comparatively very safe, when compared with low doses of ionizing radiation

Non small cell lung cancer molecular biomarkers in blood

Several studies have reported significant correlations between individual telomerase activity and apoptosis in malignant tumours including lung cancer. Such studies were carried out on tissue biopsies from the malignant tissue. The aim of the present study was to determine molecular biological parameters that can he used for early biological predisposition for lung cancer. Telomerase activity and Bcl-2 anti-apoptotic protein in circulating lymphocytes, plasma nitric oxide. epidermal growth factor and epidermal growth 'actor receptor were measured in the blood of 25 non small cell lung cancer [NSCLC] patients amid in 20 normal age and socio-economic matching controls, Results revealed significant increase in telomerase activity [53 +/- 8.2 vs. 19.5 +/- 4.8. p<0.0001] between cancer patients and normal controls, significant lower levels of Bcl-2 [7 2 +/- 1,5 vs. 10.4 +/- 1.4 micro g/ml, t 7.3. p<0.0000001] among cancer patients compared to normal controls, However, there were significantly higher levels of epidermal growth factors [6.2 +/- 2 05 vs 0.2 +/- 0.01 pg/ml], epidermal growth factor receptor EGFR [134 +/- 4.7 vs. 102 +/- 2.2 fmol/ml] and plasma nitrate/nitrite [18.8 +/- 4.7 vs. 12.5 +/- 5 micro g/ml. 1=-5.25. p<0.0001] in lung cancer patients compared to controls. This study reveals that Bcl-2 levels in circulating peripheral blood are weak biomarkers for lung cancer, while increase in plasma telomerase activity, NO and EGF levels can he used as reliable biomarkers for cancer prognosis