Research 36

Not All Laser Therapy Is The Same


Comments by Dr. Mladenoff:

There are 9 nociceptive irritants that cause inflammation and the pain cascade that it creates. PGE2 is one of the most readily known chemical causative factors.

The results of this study show that low level laser therapy  of  635 nm irradiation  inhibits expression of COX and PGE(2) release. Additionally laser therapy of 635 nm irradiation leads to a decrease of ROS levels and mRNA expression of cytosolic phospholipase A(2) (cPLA(2)) and secretary phospholipase A(2) (sPLA(2)) where as OTC or prescription COX inhibitors do not.

This study illustrates the target specific capabilities of low level laser therapy to remove proinflammatory hormones.

Not all lasers are the same. Some lasers emit a less precise wavelength range of 632-638nm frequency. This will obviously include the 635nm wavelength used in this study, however the lack of precise wavelength will hamper the efficacy of treatment.

There are now 2 challenges. Firstly can you determine if there is elevated PGE2 levels that require modulation? Second are there any of the 8 other nociceptive irritants that present that need modification? AND third is your laser capable of modulating  any or all of the other 8 nociceptive pro-inflammatory cytokines?

The anti-inflammatory mechanism of 635 nm light-emitting-diode irradiation compared with existing COX inhibitors. The anti-inflammatory mechanism of 635 nm light-emitting-diode irradiation compared with existing COX inhibitors. Lasers Surg Med. 2007 Aug;39(7):614-21. Lim W, Lee S, Kim I, Chung M, Kim M, Lim H, Park J, Kim O, Choi H.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Inhibition of cyclooxygenase (COX) and prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) protects cells against cell injury in specific pathophysiological situations: inflammation and oxidative stress. Although the anti-inflammatory effects have been reported in clinical fields for specific wavelength irradiation during wound healing, the physiological mechanism has not been clarified yet. The aim of the present study is to investigate the anti-inflammatory mechanism of 635 nm light-emitting-diode (LED) irradiation compared with existing COX inhibitors.

STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study investigated anti-inflammatory effects of 635 nm irradiation on PGE(2) release, COX and phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)) expression, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) dissociation in arachidonic acid (AA)-treated human gingival fibroblast (hGF). These results were compared with their existing COX inhibitors: indomethacin and ibuprofen. The PGE(2) release was measured by enzyme immunoassay, the COX expression was measured by western blot and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and ROS level was measured by flow cytometry, laser scanning confocal microscope and RT-PCR.

RESULTS: Results showed that 635 nm irradiation and existing COX inhibitors inhibit expression of COX and PGE(2) release. Unlike indomethacin and ibuprofen, 635 nm irradiation leads to a decrease of ROS levels and mRNA expression of cytosolic phospholipase A(2) (cPLA(2)) and secretary phospholipase A(2) (sPLA(2)).

CONCLUSION: Taken together, 635 nm irradiation, unlike indomethacin and ibuprofen, can directly dissociate the ROS. This inhibits cPLA(2), sPLA(2), and COX expression, and results in the inhibition of PGE(2) release. Thus, we suggest that 635 nm irradiation inhibits PGE(2) synthesis like COX inhibitor and appears to be useful as an anti-inflammatory tool.

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