Abstract
Background: Low levels of laser or non-coherent light, termed low-level light therapy (LLLT) have been reported to accelerate some phases of wound healing, but its clinical use remains controversial. Methods: A full thickness dorsal excisional wound in mice was treated with a single exposure to light of various wavelengths and fluences 30 minutes after wounding. Wound areas were measured until complete healing and immunofluorescence staining of tissue samples was carried out. Results: Wound healing was significantly stimulated in BALB/c and SKH1 hairless mice but not in C57BL/6 mice. Illuminated wounds started to contract while control wounds initially expanded for the first 24 hours. We found a biphasic dose-response curve for fluence of 635-nm light with a maximum positive effect at 2 J/cm2. Eight hundred twenty nanometer was found to be the best wavelength tested compared to 635, 670, and 720 nm. We found no difference between non-coherent 635 ± 15-nm light from a lamp and coherent 633-nm light from a He/Ne laser. LLLT increased the number of α-smooth muscle actin (SMA)-positive cells at the wound edge. Conclusion: LLLT stimulates wound contraction in susceptible mouse strains but the mechanism remains uncertain.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 706-715 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Lasers in Surgery and Medicine |
Volume | 39 |
Issue number | 9 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Oct 2007 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Biostimulation
- Low-level laser
- Mouse strain differences
- Myofibroblasts
- Smooth muscle actin
- Wound healing
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Surgery
- Dermatology