Introduction: Biophoton emission, the spontaneous release of photons from living cells, has emerged as an attractive field of research in the study of biological systems. Scientists have recently discovered that changes in biophoton emission could serve as potential indicators of pathological conditions. This intriguing phenomenon suggests that cells might communicate and interact with each other through the exchange of these faint but significant light signals. Therefore, the present study introduces intercellular relationships with biophoton release to detect normal and abnormal cell functions to further achieve cellular interactions by focusing on cell and cell arrangement in disease conditions. Methods: Twenty male mice were assigned to control and busulfan groups. Five weeks after the injection of busulfan, the testis was removed, and then the stereological techniques and TUNEL assay were applied to estimate the histopathology of the testis tissue sections. Results: The findings revealed that the ultra-weak biophoton emission in the control group was significantly lower than in the busulfan group. The oligospermia mice model showed that it significantly changed the spatial arrangement of testicular cells and notably decreased the testis volume, length of seminiferous tubules, and the number of testicular cells. The results of the TUNEL assay showed that the percentage of apoptotic cells significantly increased in the busulfan group. Conclusion: The ultra-weak biophoton emission from testis tissue was reduced in oligospermia mice. As a result, the decline of ultra-weak biophoton can indicate a change in cell arrangement, a decrease in intercellular interaction, and eventually disease.

• Keywords
• Apoptosis, Photon emission, Spatial arrangement, Spermatogenesis,
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

Skin plays an important role in protection, metabolism, thermoregulation, sensation, and excretion whilst being consistently exposed to environmental aggression, including biotic and abiotic stresses. During the generation of oxidative stress in the skin, the epidermal and dermal cells are generally regarded as the most affected regions. The participation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) as a result of environmental fluctuations has been experimentally proven by several researchers and is well known to contribute to ultra-weak photon emission via the oxidation of biomolecules (lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids). More recently, ultra-weak photon emission detection techniques have been introduced to investigate the conditions of oxidative stress in various living systems in in vivo, ex vivo and in vitro studies. Research into two-dimensional photon imaging is drawing growing attention because of its application as a non-invasive tool. We monitored spontaneous and stress-induced ultra-weak photon emission under the exogenous application of a Fenton reagent. The results showed a marked difference in the ultra-weak photon emission. Overall, these results suggest that triplet carbonyl (3C=O∗) and singlet oxygen (1O2) are the final emitters. Furthermore, the formation of oxidatively modified protein adducts and protein carbonyl formation upon treatment with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) were observed using an immunoblotting assay. The results from this study broaden our understanding of the mechanism of the generation of ROS in skin layers and the formation/contribution of various excited species can be used as tools to determine the physiological state of the organism.

• Keywords
• malondialdehyde, oxidative radical reaction, porcine skin, protein carbonyls, protein modification, reactive oxygen species, two-dimensional imaging, ultra-weak photon emission,
• MeSH
• Skin * metabolism   MeSH
• Oxidation-Reduction MeSH
• Oxidative Stress MeSH
• Hydrogen Peroxide * metabolism   MeSH
• Proteins metabolism   MeSH
• Reactive Oxygen Species metabolism   MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Hydrogen Peroxide * MeSH
• Proteins MeSH
• Reactive Oxygen Species MeSH

Normal or excessive oxidative metabolism in organisms is essential in physiological and pathophysiological processes, respectively. Therefore, monitoring of biological oxidative processes induced by the chemical or physical stimuli is nowadays of extreme importance due to the environment overloaded with various physicochemical factors. Current techniques typically require the addition of chemical labels or light illumination, which perturb the samples to be analyzed. Moreover, the current techniques are very demanding in terms of sample preparation and equipment. To alleviate these limitations, we propose a label-free monitoring tool of oxidation based on biological autoluminescence (BAL). We demonstrate this tool on Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell culture. We showed that BAL can be used to monitor chemical perturbation of yeast due to Fenton reagents initiated oxidation-the BAL intensity changes with hydrogen peroxide concentration in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, we also showed that BAL reflects the effects of low-frequency magnetic field on the yeast cell culture, where we observed a disturbance of the BAL kinetics in the exposed vs. control case. Our results contribute to the development of novel techniques for label-free, real-time, noninvasive monitoring of oxidative processes and approaches for their modulation.

• MeSH
• Cellulose analogs & derivatives   pharmacology   MeSH
• Drug Combinations MeSH
• Culture Techniques MeSH
• Luminescence * MeSH
• Oxidation-Reduction drug effects   MeSH
• Povidone pharmacology   MeSH
• Saccharomyces cerevisiae cytology   drug effects   metabolism   MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Cellulose MeSH
• Drug Combinations MeSH
• hyetellose, povidone drug combination MeSH Browser
• Povidone MeSH

Leaf senescence, accompanied by chlorophyll breakdown, chloroplast degradation and inhibition of photosynthesis, can be suppressed by an exogenous application of cytokinins. Two aromatic cytokinin arabinosides (6-benzylamino-9-β-d-arabinofuranosylpurines; BAPAs), 3-hydroxy- (3OHBAPA) and 3-methoxy- (3MeOBAPA) derivatives, have recently been found to possess high anti-senescence activity. Interestingly, their effect on the maintenance of chlorophyll content and maximal quantum yield of photosystem II (PSII) in detached dark-adapted leaves differed quantitatively in wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Aranka) and Arabidopsis (Arabidopsisthaliana L. (Col-0)). In this work, we have found that the anti-senescence effects of 3OHBAPA and 3MeOBAPA in wheat and Arabidopsis also differ in other parameters, including the maintenance of carotenoid content and chloroplasts, rate of reduction of primary electron acceptor of PSII (QA) as well as electron transport behind QA, and partitioning of absorbed light energy in light-adapted leaves. In wheat, 3OHBAPA had a higher protective effect than 3MeOBAPA, whereas in Arabidopsis, 3MeOBAPA was the more efficient derivative. We have found that the different anti-senescent activity of 3OHBAPA and 3MeOBAPA was coupled to different ethylene production in the treated leaves: the lower the ethylene production, the higher the anti-senescence activity. 3OHBAPA and 3MeOBAPA also efficiently protected the senescing leaves of wheat and Arabidopsis against oxidative damage induced by both H2O2 and high-light treatment, which could also be connected with the low level of ethylene production.

• Keywords
• Arabidopsis, chlorophyll fluorescence, cytokinin derivative, ethylene, oxidative stress, photosystem II, phytohormone, senescence, wheat,
• MeSH
• Arabidopsis drug effects   growth & development   metabolism   MeSH
• Cytokinins pharmacology   MeSH
• Ethylenes metabolism   MeSH
• Photosynthesis MeSH
• Plant Leaves drug effects   growth & development   metabolism   MeSH
• Triticum drug effects   growth & development   metabolism   MeSH
• Plant Growth Regulators pharmacology   MeSH
• Cellular Senescence * MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Cytokinins MeSH
• ethylene MeSH Browser
• Ethylenes MeSH
• Plant Growth Regulators MeSH

It is well established that every living organism spontaneously emits photons referred to as ultra-weak photon emission (synonym biophotons or low-level chemiluminescence) which inherently embodies information about the wellbeing of the source. In recent years, efforts have been made to use this feature as a non-invasive diagnostic tool related to the detection of food quality, agriculture and biomedicine. The current study deals with stress resulting from wounding (mechanical injury) on Arabidopsis thaliana and how it modifies the spontaneous ultra-weak photon emission. The ultra-weak photon emission from control (non-wounded) and stressed (wounded) plants was monitored using different modes of ultra-weak photon emission measurement sensors like charge-coupled device (CCD) cameras and photomultiplier tubes (PMT) and the collected data were analyzed to determine the level of stress generated, photon emission patterns, and underlying biochemical process. It is generally considered that electronically excited species formed during the oxidative metabolic processes are responsible for the ultra-weak photon emission. In the current study, a high-performance cryogenic full-frame CCD camera was employed for two-dimensional in-vivo imaging of ultra-weak photon emission (up to several counts/s) and the spectral analysis was done by using spectral system connected to a PMT. The results show that Arabidopsis subjected to mechanical injury enhances the photon emission and also leads to changes in the spectral pattern of ultra-weak photon emission. Thus, ultra-weak photon emission can be used as a tool for oxidative stress imaging and can pave its way into numerous plant application research.

• Keywords
• Arabidopsis, mechanical injury, oxidative radical reaction, reactive oxygen species, spectral properties, ultra-weak photon emission, wounding,
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

It is well known that biological systems, such as microorganisms, plants, and animals, including human beings, form spontaneous electronically excited species through oxidative metabolic processes. Though the mechanism responsible for the formation of electronically excited species is still not clearly understood, several lines of evidence suggest that reactive oxygen species (ROS) are involved in the formation of electronically excited species. This review attempts to describe the role of ROS in the formation of electronically excited species during oxidative metabolic processes. Briefly, the oxidation of biomolecules, such as lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids by ROS initiates a cascade of reactions that leads to the formation of triplet excited carbonyls formed by the decomposition of cyclic (1,2-dioxetane) and linear (tetroxide) high-energy intermediates. When chromophores are in proximity to triplet excited carbonyls, the triplet-singlet and triplet-triplet energy transfers from triplet excited carbonyls to chromophores result in the formation of singlet and triplet excited chromophores, respectively. Alternatively, when molecular oxygen is present, the triplet-singlet energy transfer from triplet excited carbonyls to molecular oxygen initiates the formation of singlet oxygen. Understanding the mechanism of the formation of electronically excited species allows us to use electronically excited species as a marker for oxidative metabolic processes in cells.

• Keywords
• chromophores, electronically excited species, hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl radical, oxidative radical reactions, reactive oxygen species, singlet oxygen, superoxide anion radical,
• MeSH
• Oxygen metabolism   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Oxidation-Reduction MeSH
• Energy Transfer MeSH
• Reactive Oxygen Species metabolism   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Review MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Oxygen MeSH
• Reactive Oxygen Species MeSH

Mechanical injury or wounding in plants can be attributed to abiotic or/and biotic causes. Subsequent defense responses are either local, i.e. within or in the close vicinity of affected tissue, or systemic, i.e. at distant plant organs. Stress stimuli activate a plethora of early and late reactions, from electric signals induced within seconds upon injury, oxidative burst within minutes, and slightly slower changes in hormone levels or expression of defense-related genes, to later cell wall reinforcement by polysaccharides deposition, or accumulation of proteinase inhibitors and hydrolytic enzymes. In the current study, we focused on the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in wounded Arabidopsis leaves. Based on fluorescence imaging, we provide experimental evidence that ROS [superoxide anion radical (O2 •-) and singlet oxygen (1O2)] are produced following wounding. As a consequence, oxidation of biomolecules is induced, predominantly of polyunsaturated fatty acid, which leads to the formation of reactive intermediate products and electronically excited species.

• Keywords
• Arabidopsis, confocal microscopy, fluorescent probes, mechanical injury, wounding,
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

The skin is the largest organ in the body and is consistently exposed to aggressive environmental attacks (biological/physical/chemical, etc.). Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are formed during the normal oxidative metabolism which enhances to a lethal level under stress conditions referred to as oxidative stress. While, under normal conditions, cells are capable of dealing with ROS using non-enzymatic and enzymatic defense system, it can lead to a critical damage to cell system via the oxidation of cellular components under stress condition. Lipid peroxidation is a well-established mechanism of cellular injury in all kinds of organisms and it is often used as an indicator of oxidative stress in cells and tissues. In the presence of metal ions, ROS such as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) produces highly reactive hydroxyl radical (HO•) via Fenton reaction. In the current study, we have used the porcine skin (intact pig ear/skin biopsies) as an ex vivo/in vitro model system to represent human skin. Experimental results have been presented on the participation of HO• in the initiation of lipid peroxidation and thereby leading to the formation of reactive intermediates and the formation of electronically excited species eventually leading to ultra-weak photon emission (UPE). To understand the participation of different electronically excited species in the overall UPE, the effect of a scavenger of singlet oxygen (1O2) on photon emission in the visible and near-infrared region of the spectrum was measured which showed its contribution. In addition, measurement with interference filter with a transmission in the range of 340-540 nm reflected a substantial contribution of triplet carbonyls (3L=O∗) in the photon emission. Thus, it is concluded that during the oxidative radical reactions, the UPE is contributed by the formation of both 3L=O∗ and 1O2. The method used in the current study is claimed to be a potential tool for non-invasive determination of the physiological and pathological state of human skin in dermatological research.

• Keywords
• singlet oxygen, skin, triplet excited carbonyl, two-dimensional photon imaging, ultra-weak photon emission,
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

Wounding, one of the most intensive stresses influencing plants ontogeny and lifespan, can be induced by herbivory as well as by physical factors. Reactive oxygen species play indispensable role both in the local and systemic defense reactions which enable "reprogramming" of metabolic pathways to set new boundaries and physiological equilibrium suitable for survival. In our current study, we provide experimental evidence on the formation of singlet oxygen (1O2) after wounding of Arabidopsis leaves. It is shown that 1O2 is formed by triplet-triplet energy transfer from triplet carbonyls to molecular oxygen. Using lipoxygenase inhibitor catechol, it is demonstrated that lipid peroxidation is initiated by lipoxygenase. Suppression of 1O2 formation in lox2 mutant which lacks chloroplast lipoxygenase indicates that lipoxygenase localized in chloroplast is predominantly responsible for 1O2 formation. Interestingly, 1O2 formation is solely restricted to chloroplasts localized at the wounding site. Data presented in this study might provide novel insight into wound-induced signaling in the local defense reaction.

• MeSH
• Arabidopsis MeSH
• Phenotype MeSH
• Fluorescent Antibody Technique MeSH
• Microscopy, Confocal MeSH
• Lipoxygenase metabolism   MeSH
• Lipoxygenases genetics   MeSH
• Fatty Acids metabolism   MeSH
• Molecular Imaging MeSH
• Mutation MeSH
• Arabidopsis Proteins genetics   MeSH
• Wounds and Injuries metabolism   MeSH
• Singlet Oxygen metabolism   MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Lipoxygenase MeSH
• lipoxygenase 2, Arabidopsis MeSH Browser
• Lipoxygenases MeSH
• Fatty Acids MeSH
• Arabidopsis Proteins MeSH
• Singlet Oxygen MeSH

Singlet oxygen (1O2) is formed by triplet-triplet energy transfer from triplet chlorophyll to O2 via Type II photosensitization reaction in photosystem II (PSII). Formation of triplet chlorophyll is associated with the change in spin state of the excited electron and recombination of triplet radical pair in the PSII antenna complex and reaction center, respectively. Here, we have provided evidence for the formation of 1O2 by decomposition of protein hydroperoxide in PSII membranes deprived of Mn4O5Ca complex. Protein hydroperoxide is formed by protein oxidation initiated by highly oxidizing chlorophyll cation radical and hydroxyl radical formed by Type I photosensitization reaction. Under highly oxidizing conditions, protein hydroperoxide is oxidized to protein peroxyl radical which either cyclizes to dioxetane or recombines with another protein peroxyl radical to tetroxide. These highly unstable intermediates decompose to triplet carbonyls which transfer energy to O2 forming 1O2. Data presented in this study show for the first time that 1O2 is formed by decomposition of protein hydroperoxide in PSII membranes deprived of Mn4O5Ca complex.

• MeSH
• Chlorophyll metabolism   MeSH
• Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy methods   MeSH
• Photosystem II Protein Complex metabolism   MeSH
• Oxygen metabolism   MeSH
• Oxidation-Reduction MeSH
• Hydrogen Peroxide metabolism   MeSH
• Peroxides metabolism   MeSH
• Energy Transfer physiology   MeSH
• Singlet Oxygen metabolism   MeSH
• Light MeSH
• Light-Harvesting Protein Complexes metabolism   MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Chlorophyll MeSH
• Photosystem II Protein Complex MeSH
• Oxygen MeSH
• perhydroxyl radical MeSH Browser
• Hydrogen Peroxide MeSH
• Peroxides MeSH
• Singlet Oxygen MeSH
• Light-Harvesting Protein Complexes MeSH