Transcriptomic sequencing reveals gene expression profiles underlying photobiomodulation-mediated amelioration of hypobaric hypoxia-induced synaptic plasticity deficits in mice

Photobiomodulation is a neuromodulation technique that employs lasers and light-emitting diodes to stimulate neural activity and improve brain function, demonstrating favorable clinical outcomes in the treatment of various neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders. In this study, we applied 1064 nm laser-based photobiomodulation to address brain dysfunction induced by hypobaric hypoxia exposure. Hypobaric hypoxia impairs synaptic plasticity, leading to cognitive deficits in mice. Our findings suggest that photobiomodulation preserves synaptic plasticity homeostasis through the PI3K-Akt, cAMP-PKA, and calcium signaling pathways, with Adora2a identified as a potential key driver molecule and therapeutic target underlying the beneficial effects of photobiomodulation on hypobaric hypoxia-induced cognitive dysfunction.