Neural Regeneration Research ›› 2026, Vol. 21 ›› Issue (10): 4933-4944.doi: 10.4103/NRR.NRR-D-25-00399

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Far-infrared irradiation restores mitochondrial dynamics to ameliorate ischemic stroke

Wanyu Wu1, Yuping Wang1, 2, Bo Qin1, 2, Xiongfei Xu1, 3, Yuanqing Qu1, Nick Wang4, Wuyan Zheng1, Xiaoyun Yun1, Betty Yuen-Kwan Law1, Jianfeng Sun1, Wei Zhang1, Chang Chen1, 5, *, Vincent Kam-Wai Wong1, *   

  1. 1Dr. Neher’s Biophysics Laboratory for Innovative Drug Discovery, State Key Laboratory of Mechanism and Quality of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macao Special Administrative Region, China; 
    2The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan Province, China; 
    3The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan Province, China; 
    4New Age Technology (Asia) Limited, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China; 
    5Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
  • Online:2026-10-15 Published:2026-06-13
  • Contact: Vincent Kam-Wai Wong, PhD, kawwong@must.edu.mo; Chang Chen, MD, cchen@icmm.ac.cn.
  • Supported by:
    This work was supported by the FDCT grant from the Macao Science and Technology Development Fund, Nos. 0124/2022/A; 002/2023/ALC (to VKWW).

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Abstract: Far-infrared irradiation exhibits promise in chronic diseases, and its role in ischemic stroke  specifically in modulating mitochondrial dynamics remains unknown. This study explored the neuroprotective effects of far-infrared irradiation using a rat middle cerebral artery occlusion model and oxygen-glucose deprivation-injured neuronal cells. In middle cerebral artery occlusion rats, daily 30-minute far-infrared irradiation treatment reduced infarct volume, alleviated cerebral edema, and improved neurological function. Proteomic analysis identified far-infrared irradiation-mediated upregulation of eight proteins, including the mitochondrial fusion regulator optic atrophy 1. In oxygen-glucose deprivation-exposed cells, far-infrared irradiation restored mitochondrial membrane potential, and enhanced fusion via optic atrophy 1 induction. Mechanistically, far-infrared irradiation stabilized mitochondrial dynamics by boosting optic atrophy 1 expression, thereby reducing oxidative stress and maintaining energy production. Optic atrophy 1 knockdown partly abolished the protective effects of far-infrared irradiation therapy. These results establish far-infrared irradiation as a non-pharmacological intervention targeting mitochondrial redox homeostasis in ischemic stroke, offering a novel therapeutic avenue for cerebrovascular disorders.

Key words: energy metabolism, far-infrared irradiation, ischemic stroke, middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO), mitochondrial dynamics, mitochondrial fusion, neuroprotection, optic atrophy 1 (Opa1), oxidative stress