Helium-neon laser irradiation enhances DNA synthesis in a human neuroblastoma cell line

To gain further insight into the mechanism of cell photostimulation by laser light ((lambda) equals 632.8 nm), DNA synthesis was measured in the human neuroblastoma cell line BE(2)-C. Cells were irradiated at high density to establish the characteristics of cellular energy into S- phase in response to laser stimulation. BE(2)-C cells after release from a quiescent, growth arrested state exhibited increased incorporation of isotope 12 hours after replating at subconfluent density in the presence of 2.5% fetal bovine serum (FBS) and [3H] thymidine. In contrast, cells replated under the same conditions, but stimulated with 15% FBS exhibited a time lag of approximately 16 hours in apparent DNA synthesis. These results were not corroborated by flow cytometry. Laser irradiation did not affect the fraction of cells entering S-phase. It therefore appears that the stimulatory effect of He-Ne laser irradiation on BE(2)-C cells is to enhance DNA synthesis while not altering the G1-S transition rate.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.