Far Infrared Radiation Attenuates Bleomycin-Induced Pulmonary Fibrosis in Mice via Modulation of the p53/TGF-β Signaling Pathway

Currently, there is no curative medication for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), and therapeutic interventions for IPF are hindered by limited efficacy and severe adverse side effects. Far Infrared Radiation (FIR), an invisible form of electromagnetic energy, has garnered increasing attention for its multiple biological effects. However, its therapeutic benefits and the underlying mechanisms of IPF have not been investigated. In the present study, we established a mouse model of bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis (BIPF) to assess the efficacy of FIR in attenuating BIPF. The results showed that FIR therapy significantly improved the general condition of the mice and protected pulmonary function by ameliorating lung fibrosis, collagen deposition and excessive inflammation. Moreover, FIR could alleviate fibroblast-to-myofibroblast differentiation (FMD), the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and angiogenesis in BIPF mice. These beneficial effects were notable both in the pro-fibrotic inflammatory stage and the following fibrotic stage. Mechanistically, FIR exerted anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects through modulating the p53/TGF-β signaling pathway. Overall, this study elucidates the anti-fibrotic activity and the potential molecular mechanisms of FIR in treating BIPF, providing a therapeutic strategy of convenient, non-invasive physical therapy for alleviating IPF. Of greater significance, the findings of this study display the promising future applications of FIR in managing the physiopathology of various chronic diseases.