What are the mechanisms and applications of the anti-inflammatory effects of photobiomodulation (PBM)?
Photobiomodulation, a review (AIMS Biophysics 2017, PMID 28748217) — secondary effects include increased ATP, a brief burst of reactive oxygen species (ROS), increased nitric oxide, and modulated calcium levels. No numeric effect size is reported for Photobiomodulation in the source abstract.
Source: AIMS Biophysics 2017, PMID 28748217 ↗ · Research map · How Magellan grades evidence · evidence confidence: low
AIMS Biophysics · 2017 · PMID 28748217 · DOI 10.3934/biophy.2017.3.337
Photobiomodulation uses red and near-infrared light to reduce inflammation by influencing cellular processes like energy production, antioxidant defenses, and gene expression.
The question
What are the mechanisms and applications of the anti-inflammatory effects of photobiomodulation (PBM)?
What they tested
The abstract does not explicitly state a hypothesis, but rather reviews the known mechanisms and applications of PBM's anti-inflammatory effects.
How they did it
This is a review article summarizing existing research on the mechanisms and applications of photobiomodulation (PBM). It discusses primary, secondary, and tertiary effects of light absorption, as well as observed outcomes in various cell types and animal models.
What they found
PBM's primary chromophores are cytochrome c oxidase and calcium ion channels. Secondary effects include increased ATP, a brief burst of reactive oxygen species (ROS), increased nitric oxide, and modulated calcium levels. Tertiary effects involve activation of transcription factors, leading to improved cell survival, proliferation, migration, and new protein synthesis. PBM exhibits a biphasic dose response, with low light levels stimulating and high levels inhibiting. PBM can produce ROS in normal cells but lowers ROS in oxidatively stressed cells and disease models, up-regulating anti-oxidant defenses. It activates NF-kB in normal cells but decreases inflammatory markers in activated inflammatory cells. PBM reduces inflammation in joints, traumatic injuries, lung disorders, and the brain, and has been shown to reduce M1 phenotype markers in activated macrophages, as well as reactive nitrogen species and prostaglandins in animal models.
What it means
Photobiomodulation (PBM) effectively reduces inflammation through multiple mechanisms, including modulation of mitochondrial activity, calcium levels, reactive oxygen species, and transcription factors. Its anti-inflammatory effects are reproducible across various tissues and disease models, making it a promising therapeutic approach for inflammatory disorders.
Limitations
The abstract does not explicitly state limitations of the research reviewed or PBM itself, as it is a summary of known mechanisms and applications.
Where the published abstract does not list limitations, we say so rather than inventing them. Read the full paper on PubMed before drawing conclusions.
The paper at a glance
| Title | Mechanisms and applications of the anti-inflammatory effects of photobiomodulation. |
|---|---|
| Journal | AIMS Biophysics |
| Year | 2017 |
| PMID | 28748217 ↗ |
| DOI | 10.3934/biophy.2017.3.337 ↗ |
| Topic | Immunity, inflammation & resilience |
Read the source: PubMed record (authors, abstract, full citation) ↗ · Publisher via doi.org ↗
Where Magellan uses this paper
This citation sits behind the evidence grade on the pages below. Grades are set from the research and are independent of affiliate commissions.
Contrast Therapy Systems (Sauna + Cold + Light)
Heat, cold and light each trigger hormesis — a mild stress that prompts adaptive, protective cellular responses including heat-shock proteins, brown-fat and anti-inflammatory signalling, and mitochondrial stimulation.
Photobiomodulation (Red & Near-Infrared Light)
The primary target of red and near-infrared light is cytochrome c oxidase, an enzyme in the mitochondrial respiratory chain; stimulating it is associated with increased cellular energy (ATP) production and reduced inflammation.
Molecules & mechanisms in this paper
Each of these is named in the paper’s own words above. Open the monograph for the full mechanism and its other citations.
Cite this page
These citations point at this summary. To cite the original paper with its full author list, use the PubMed record or doi.org.
Magellan Longevity. (2026). What are the mechanisms and applications of the anti-inflammatory effects of photobiomodulation (PBM)? [Plain-English summary of AIMS Biophysics 2017, PMID 28748217, DOI 10.3934/biophy.2017.3.337]. Magellan Longevity. https://magellanlongevity.com/study/pbm.html@misc{magellan_pbm,
title = {What are the mechanisms and applications of the anti-inflammatory effects of photobiomodulation (PBM)?},
author = {{Magellan Longevity}},
year = {2026},
howpublished = {\url{https://magellanlongevity.com/study/pbm.html}},
note = {Plain-English summary of PubMed PMID 28748217; DOI 10.3934/biophy.2017.3.337; AIMS Biophysics 2017. Reviewed by Gabriel Radu, DO},
urldate = {2026-08-11}
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