Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease that affects the synovial joints. Low-level laser photobiomodulation (LLLT) has microcirculatory, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory effects. In this paper, the percentage of collagen fibrils and IL-6 protein expression in the synovia were measured to evaluate the effects of photobiomodulation (PBM) with LLLT (λ = 808 nm) on the morphology. Eighteen female Wistar rats were assigned into three groups: Control, Sham, and PBM. To induce arthritis, animals from the Sham and PBM groups received one intraarticular dose of zymosan (200 µg) under anesthesia. Twenty-four hours after induction, an LLLT treatment (λ = 808 nm, 25 mW nominal power, fluence of 20J/cm2, beam area of 0.02 mm2, time of 33 s, total energy of 0.825 J) was applied. Seven days after induction, samples from the animals' knees were subjected to histological and morphometric analyses, and the percentage of collagen fibers in the synovial area (% total area) with and without polarized light and IL-6 protein expression were measured by immunohistochemistry. Statistical analyses were performed an ANOVA and Tukey's post-test with p < 0.05 to compare the experimental groups using. Inflammation of the synovial region showed significant differences between Sham vs. Control, p < 0.0001, and PBM vs. Sham, p < 0.001. The areas of collagen fibers (total percentage) showed differences between Sham vs. Control, p < 0.0001, and Sham vs. PBM, p = 0.0149. IL-6 showed differences between Sham vs. Control and PBM vs. Sham, p < 0.001. Treatment with PBM using LLLT showed decreased synovial inflammation, collagen fiber formation, fibrosis, and IL-6 protein expression, and consequently decreased joint degradation.
Citation: Luiz Felipe Barreta, Danielly Mandato Oliveira, Bruna Silva Gomes, Sabrina Zanchetta Lanza, Marcelo Augusto Marretto Esquisatto, Gaspar de Jesus Lopes-Filho, Fernando Russo Costa do Bomfim. Photobiomodulation with low-level laser (λ = 808nm) to treat experimental rheumatoid arthritis: A morphological study, collagen fiber analysis and IL-6 protein expression[J]. AIMS Molecular Science, 2025, 12(2): 122-132. doi: 10.3934/molsci.2025008
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease that affects the synovial joints. Low-level laser photobiomodulation (LLLT) has microcirculatory, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory effects. In this paper, the percentage of collagen fibrils and IL-6 protein expression in the synovia were measured to evaluate the effects of photobiomodulation (PBM) with LLLT (λ = 808 nm) on the morphology. Eighteen female Wistar rats were assigned into three groups: Control, Sham, and PBM. To induce arthritis, animals from the Sham and PBM groups received one intraarticular dose of zymosan (200 µg) under anesthesia. Twenty-four hours after induction, an LLLT treatment (λ = 808 nm, 25 mW nominal power, fluence of 20J/cm2, beam area of 0.02 mm2, time of 33 s, total energy of 0.825 J) was applied. Seven days after induction, samples from the animals' knees were subjected to histological and morphometric analyses, and the percentage of collagen fibers in the synovial area (% total area) with and without polarized light and IL-6 protein expression were measured by immunohistochemistry. Statistical analyses were performed an ANOVA and Tukey's post-test with p < 0.05 to compare the experimental groups using. Inflammation of the synovial region showed significant differences between Sham vs. Control, p < 0.0001, and PBM vs. Sham, p < 0.001. The areas of collagen fibers (total percentage) showed differences between Sham vs. Control, p < 0.0001, and Sham vs. PBM, p = 0.0149. IL-6 showed differences between Sham vs. Control and PBM vs. Sham, p < 0.001. Treatment with PBM using LLLT showed decreased synovial inflammation, collagen fiber formation, fibrosis, and IL-6 protein expression, and consequently decreased joint degradation.
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Luiz Felipe Barreta, Danielly Mandato Oliveira, Bruna Silva Gomes, Sabrina Zanchetta Lanza, Marcelo Augusto Marretto Esquisatto, Gaspar de Jesus Lopes-Filho, Fernando Russo Costa do Bomfim. Photobiomodulation with low-level laser (λ = 808nm) to treat experimental rheumatoid arthritis: A morphological study, collagen fiber analysis and IL-6 protein expression[J]. AIMS Molecular Science, 2025, 12(2): 122-132. doi: 10.3934/molsci.2025008
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