Effects of low-level laser therapy on the expression of osteogenic genes during the initial stages of bone healing in rats: a microarray analysis

Lasers Med Sci. 2015 Dec;30(9):2325-33. doi: 10.1007/s10103-015-1807-5. Epub 2015 Sep 28.

Abstract

This study evaluated the morphological changes produced by LLLT on the initial stages of bone healing and also studied the pathways that stimulate the expression of genes related to bone cell proliferation and differentiation. One hundred Wistar rats were divided into control and treated groups. Noncritical size bone defects were surgically created at the upper third of the tibia. Laser irradiation (Ga-Al-As laser 830 nm, 30 mW, 94 s, 2.8 J) was performed for 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7 sessions. Histopathology revealed that treated animals produced increased amount of newly formed bone at the site of the injury. Moreover, microarray analysis evidenced that LLLT produced a significant increase in the expression TGF-β, BMP, FGF, and RUNX-2 that could stimulate osteoblast proliferation and differentiation, which may be related to improving the deposition of newly formed bone at the site of the injury. Thus, it is possible to conclude that LLLT improves bone healing by producing a significant increase in the expression of osteogenic genes.

Keywords: Bone regeneration; LLLT; Microarray; Osteogenic genes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bone Regeneration / genetics
  • Bone Regeneration / radiation effects
  • Low-Level Light Therapy*
  • Male
  • Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis*
  • Osteogenesis / genetics*
  • Osteogenesis / radiation effects*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Tibia / physiology*
  • Tibia / radiation effects*
  • Wound Healing / genetics
  • Wound Healing / radiation effects*