Evaluation of low level laser therapy irradiation parameters on rat muscle inflammation through systemic blood cytokines

Low level laser therapy (LLLT) has been used for inflammation treatment. Here, we evaluate the effect of different doses, using continuous (830 and 980 nm) and pulsed illumination (830 nm), in the treatment of inflammation induced in the gastrocnemius muscle of Wistar rats, through cytokines concentration in systemic blood and histological analysis of muscle tissue. Animals were randomly divided into five groups per wavelength (5 animals per group: 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 mW) plus a control group. LLLT was applied during five days, with constant exposure time and irradiated area (3 minutes; 0.5026 cm2). Blood was collected on days 0, 3 and 6. TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-2 and IL-6 cytokines were quantified by ELISA. Rats were killed on day 6. Muscle inflammatory cells were counted using optical microscopy. Treatment effects occurred for all applied doses (largest effect at 40 mW: 7.2 J, 14 J/cm2 per irradiation), with reduction of proinflammatory TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 cytokines and lower number of inflammatory cells. Results were better for 830 nm. Identical methodology was used with pulsed illumination. Average power (40 mW) and duty cycle were kept constant (80%) at five frequencies (5, 25, 50, 100 and 200 Hz). Treatment effects were observed at higher frequencies, with no significant differences between them. However, the treatment effect was lower than for continuous illumination. LLLT effect on inflammation treatment can be monitored by measuring systemic blood cytokines. A larger treatment effect was observed with continuous illumination, where results seem to be compatible with a biphasic dose response.

[1]  Yong Li,et al.  Transforming growth factor-beta1 induces the differentiation of myogenic cells into fibrotic cells in injured skeletal muscle: a key event in muscle fibrogenesis. , 2004, The American journal of pathology.

[2]  N. A. Parizotto,et al.  Dose-dependency of Low-energy HeNe Laser Effect in Regeneration of Skeletal Muscle in Mice , 2001, Lasers in Medical Science.

[3]  Rodrigo Alvaro Brandão Lopes-Martins,et al.  Spontaneous effects of low-level laser therapy (650 nm) in acute inflammatory mouse pleurisy induced by carrageenan. , 2005, Photomedicine and laser surgery.

[4]  A. Welch,et al.  A review of the optical properties of biological tissues , 1990 .

[5]  A. Brugnera,et al.  Cytokine mRNA expression is decreased in the subplantar muscle of rat paw subjected to carrageenan-induced inflammation after low-level laser therapy. , 2007, Photomedicine and laser surgery.

[6]  M. Martins,et al.  Phototherapy with low-level laser affects the remodeling of types I and III collagen in skeletal muscle repair , 2011, Lasers in Medical Science.

[7]  Tianhong Dai,et al.  The Nuts and Bolts of Low-level Laser (Light) Therapy , 2011, Annals of Biomedical Engineering.

[8]  H. J. G. GUNDERSEN,et al.  Some new, simple and efficient stereological methods and their use in pathological research and diagnosis , 1988, APMIS : acta pathologica, microbiologica, et immunologica Scandinavica.

[9]  M. Okita,et al.  Low‐level laser irradiation promotes the recovery of atrophied gastrocnemius skeletal muscle in rats , 2009, Experimental physiology.

[10]  A. Bast,et al.  Transcription factor NF-kappaB as a potential biomarker for oxidative stress. , 2001, The British journal of nutrition.

[11]  T. Best,et al.  The inflammatory response: friend or enemy for muscle injury? , 2003, British journal of sports medicine.

[12]  M. Iyomasa,et al.  Ultrastructural analysis of the low level laser therapy effects on the lesioned anterior tibial muscle in the gerbil. , 2009, Micron.

[13]  Michael R. Hamblin,et al.  Low‐level laser therapy (808 nm) reduces inflammatory response and oxidative stress in rat tibialis anterior muscle after cryolesion , 2012, Lasers in surgery and medicine.

[14]  M. Martins,et al.  Effects of low-level laser therapy on expression of TNF-α and TGF-β in skeletal muscle during the repair process , 2011, Lasers in Medical Science.

[15]  D. E. Hudson,et al.  Penetration of laser light at 808 and 980 nm in bovine tissue samples. , 2013, Photomedicine and laser surgery.

[16]  Misook Kim,et al.  The anti‐inflammatory mechanism of 635 nm light‐emitting‐diode irradiation compared with existing COX inhibitors , 2007, Lasers in surgery and medicine.

[17]  J. González‐Gallego,et al.  Effects of low‐level laser therapy (LLLT) on the nuclear factor (NF)‐κB signaling pathway in traumatized muscle , 2006, Lasers in surgery and medicine.

[18]  Hsin-Su Yu,et al.  Helium-neon laser irradiation stimulates cell proliferation through photostimulatory effects in mitochondria. , 2007, The Journal of investigative dermatology.

[19]  M. Dyson,et al.  MACROPHAGE RESPONSIVENESS TO LIGHT THERAPY-A DOSE RESPONSE STUDY , 1990 .

[20]  Luis De Taboada,et al.  Effect of pulsing in low‐level light therapy , 2010, Lasers in surgery and medicine.

[21]  Michael R. Hamblin,et al.  Biphasic Dose Response in Low Level Light Therapy , 2009, Dose-response : a publication of International Hormesis Society.

[22]  R. Zângaro,et al.  Effects of different protocol doses of low power gallium-aluminum-arsenate (Ga-Al-As) laser radiation (650 nm) on carrageenan induced rat paw ooedema. , 2004, Journal of photochemistry and photobiology. B, Biology.

[23]  Ricardo Aurino Pinho,et al.  Evaluation of mitochondrial respiratory chain activity in muscle healing by low-level laser therapy. , 2009, Journal of photochemistry and photobiology. B, Biology.

[24]  D. Nieman.  The Dual Roles of Neutrophils and Macrophages in Inflammation: A Critical Balance Between Tissue Damage and Repair , 2008 .

[25]  Elizângela Márcia de Carvalho Abreu,et al.  Ação da terapia com laser de baixa potência nas fases iniciais do reparo tecidual: princípios básicos , 2011 .

[26]  Uri Oron,et al.  Low-energy laser irradiation promotes the survival and cell cycle entry of skeletal muscle satellite cells. , 2002, Journal of cell science.

[27]  The effects of a 785-nm AlGaInP laser on the regeneration of rat anterior tibialis muscle after surgically-induced injury. , 2008, Photomedicine and laser surgery.

[28]  K. Samoilova,et al.  Pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine content in human peripheral blood after its transcutaneous (in vivo) and direct (in vitro) irradiation with polychromatic visible and infrared light. , 2006, Photomedicine and laser surgery.

[29]  A. Bast,et al.  Transcription factor NF-κB as a potential biomarker for oxidative stress , 2001, British Journal of Nutrition.

[30]  Michael R Hamblin,et al.  Biphasic Dose Response in Low Level Light Therapy – an Update , 2011, Dose-response : a publication of International Hormesis Society.

[31]  R. Nicolau,et al.  Effect of low-level laser therapy on the initial stages of tissue repair: basic principles. , 2011, Anais brasileiros de dermatologia.

[32]  Da Xing,et al.  Molecular mechanisms of cell proliferation induced by low power laser irradiation , 2009, Journal of Biomedical Science.

[33]  A. K. Hansen,et al.  The impact of different blood sampling methods on laboratory rats under different types of anaesthesia , 2006, Laboratory animals.

[34]  S. Parasuraman,et al.  Blood sample collection in small laboratory animals , 2010, Journal of pharmacology & pharmacotherapeutics.

[35]  R. Lopes-Martins,et al.  Infrared (810 nm) Low‐Level Laser Therapy in Experimental Model of Strain‐Induced Skeletal Muscle Injury in Rats: Effects on Functional Outcomes , 2012, Photochemistry and photobiology.

[36]  D. Ribeiro,et al.  Comparative effects of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound and low-level laser therapy on injured skeletal muscle. , 2011, Photomedicine and laser surgery.

[37]  Michael R Hamblin,et al.  Low-level laser therapy (808 nm) contributes to muscle regeneration and prevents fibrosis in rat tibialis anterior muscle after cryolesion , 2012, Lasers in Medical Science.