Enhanced mitochondrial membrane potential and ATP synthesis by photobiomodulation increases viability of the auditory cell line after gentamicin-induced intrinsic apoptosis.

Photobiomodulation (PBM) has been suggested to have a therapeutic effect on irreversible hearing loss induced by aminoglycosides, including gentamicin (GM). However, its intracellular mechanism(s) in GM-induced ototoxicity remain poorly understood. In the present study, we investigated the effect of PBM in GM-induced ototoxicity in auditory cells. We tried to characterize the downstream process by PBM, and the process that triggered the increased cell viability of auditory cells. As a result, the effects of PBM against GM-induced ototoxicity by increasing ATP levels and mitochondrial membrane potential was confirmed. These results suggest a theory to explain the therapeutic effects and support the use of PBM for aminoglycoside-induced hearing loss.