Islet response to photobiomodulation varies with the nature of the stress: insights from hypoxia–reperfusion

Photobiomodulation (PBM) has been shown to protect pancreatic islets under inflammatory or metabolic stress, but its effects during hypoxia-reperfusion remain unclear. We evaluated PBM applied as preconditioning or during hypoxia-reperfusion in MIN6 cells and rodent islets. Hypoxia significantly reduced viability and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, while PBM failed to prevent these alterations and did not modify mitochondrial parameters. These findings indicate that PBM efficacy is stress-dependent and suggest limited benefit in the context of hypoxia-reperfusion, where mitochondrial dysfunction appears minimal in islet cells.