AUTHOR=Zhong Junying , Zhao Le , Wu Wensi , Chen Jiawei , Yuan Shangyan , Zhang Xiaojun , Wang Zhi 

TITLE=Transcranial near-infrared laser improves postoperative neurocognitive disorder in aged mice via SIRT3/AMPK/Nrf2 pathway

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Neuroscience

VOLUME=Volume 16 - 2022

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnins.2022.1100915

DOI=10.3389/fnins.2022.1100915

ISSN=1662-453X

ABSTRACT=Background: Postoperative neurocognitive disorder (PND) is a common central nervous system complication that might increase the morbidity and mortality of elderly patients after anesthesia/surgery. Neuroinflammation, oxidative stress and synaptic dysfunction are closely related to cognitive dysfunction, an important clinical feature of PND. Transcranial near-infrared laser (TNIL) is regarded as an effective treatment for cognitive related diseases by improving mitochondrial function, alleviating neuroinflammation and oxidative stress damage.
Materials and methods: Aged male C57BL/6 mice were performed carotid artery exposure procedure under isoflurane anesthesia. We treated PND aged mice for 3 consecutive days (4 hours post-operation, 1-laser) with 810 nm continuous wave (CW) laser 18 J/cm2 at 120 mW/cm2. The post-treatment evaluation included behavioral tests, RTq-PCR, immunofluorescence and western blot.
Results: The results demonstrated that TNIL improved PND and the levels of synaptic function associated proteins such as post-synaptic density protein 95 (PSD95), synaptophysin (SYP) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Besides, neuroinflammatory cytokine levels tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-1β as well as microglia activation and oxidative stress damage were attenuated after TNIL treatment in aged mice with PND. Further investigation suggested TNIL relieved oxidative stress response might by activating SIRT3/AMPK/Nrf2 pathway.
Conclusion: TNIL improved cognitive impairment in aged PND mice, which may be a promising therapeutic for PND.