The apoptosis-increasing effect regarding the immune system’s cellular elements (lymphocytes, eosinophils) is one of the key factors to the efficacy of the Rhinolight phototherapy. Apoptosis itself is based on the DNA-damaging effect of UV light, therefore safety studies of Rhinolight carried are required out on nasal mucosa cells. During our experiments we used the so-salled Comet-assay to determine the extent of DNA damage.

As can be seen on the below chart, the quantity of damaged DNA in the nasal mucosa cells of allergic rhinitis patients exceeded that of the healthy control individuals’. We measured a significant increase of DNA damage immediately after the Rhinolight treatments, which then gradually dropped within two months to the levels of healthy controls due to the cellular DNA-repair mechanism. Series of treatments according to the protocol are needed once, or, at best, twice a year, therefore the Rhinolight phototherapy can be regarded as a safe procedure.

Chart: Determination of the extent of DNA damage using a Comet assay
(J Photochem Photobiol B: Biology 89 (2007) 163–169)