Title:Biological Responses of Stem Cells to Photobiomodulation Therapy
Volume: 15
Issue: 5
Author(s): Khatereh Khorsandi, Reza Hosseinzadeh, Heidi Abrahamse and Reza Fekrazad*
Affiliation:
- Department of Periodontology, Dental Faculty - Radiation Sciences Research Center, Laser Research Center in Medical Sciences, AJA University of Medical Sciences, Tehran,Iran
Keywords:
Stem cell, low-level laser therapy, regenerative medicine, photobiomodulation, mesenchymal stem cells.
Abstract:
Background: Stem cells have attracted the researchers interest, due to their applications in
regenerative medicine. Their self-renewal capacity for multipotent differentiation, and immunomodulatory
properties make them unique to significantly contribute to tissue repair and regeneration applications.
Recently, stem cells have shown increased proliferation when irradiated with low-level laser
therapy or Photobiomodulation Therapy (PBMT), which induces the activation of intracellular and
extracellular chromophores and the initiation of cellular signaling. The purpose of this study was to
evaluate this phenomenon in the literature.
Methods: The literature investigated the articles written in English in four electronic databases of
PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar and Cochrane up to April 2019. Stem cell was searched by combining
the search keyword of "low-level laser therapy" OR "low power laser therapy" OR "low-intensity
laser therapy" OR "photobiomodulation therapy" OR "photo biostimulation therapy" OR "LED". In
total, 46 articles were eligible for evaluation.
Results: Studies demonstrated that red to near-infrared light is absorbed by the mitochondrial respiratory
chain. Mitochondria are significant sources of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Mitochondria play
an important role in metabolism, energy generation, and are also involved in mediating the effects
induced by PBMT. PBMT may result in the increased production of (ROS), nitric oxide (NO), adenosine
triphosphate (ATP), and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). These changes, in turn, initiate
cell proliferation and induce the signal cascade effect.
Conclusion: The findings of this review suggest that PBMT-based regenerative medicine could be a
useful tool for future advances in tissue engineering and cell therapy.
