Effects of photobiomodulation, alone or combined with dexamethasone, on cellular metabolic activity and inflammatory markers in LPS/IFN-γ-stimulated J774 macrophages

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Abstract
The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of photobiomodulation (PBM), dexamethasone (DEXA), and their combination on cellular metabolic activity and inflammatory cytokines in LPS/IFN-γ-stimulated J774 macrophages.Cells were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and treated with PBM (780 nm) and/or DEXA (2 or 4 μM). Cellmorphology, metabolic activity assessed by the 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, and total protein, tumornecrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were analyzed at 24 and 48hours. PBM combined with DEXA at 2 μM increased MTT metabolic activity at 24 hours and was associated with preserved morphology and maintainedhigher total protein levels, with consistent superiority over DEXA alone. PBM + DEXA 2 μM produced the strongest reduction in TNF-α and IL-6 at 24hours, and IL-6 levels remained lower at 48 hours compared to the M1 + PBM group. The 4 μM dose demonstrated lower efficacy and signs of functionalimpairment, which were partially mitigated by PBM. These findings indicate that PBM may enhance the anti-inflammatory effects of low-dose DEXA while supporting a favorable cellular metabolic response, suggesting its potential as an adjunct strategy to optimize the glucocorticoid-based modulation ofinflammatory responses.
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  • Universidade Nove de Julho

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