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The action of pre-exercise low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on the expression of IL-6 and TNF-α proteins and on the functional fitness of elderly rats subjected to aerobic training

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Abstract

The aim of the present study was to determine whether low-level laser therapy (LLLT), when used in conjunction with aerobic training, interferes with the expression of inflammatory markers IL-6 and TNF-α, thereby influencing the performance of old rats participating in swimming. A total of 30 Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus albinus) were used for this study: 24 aged rats, and 6 young rats. The older animals were randomly divided into four groups designated as follows: aged-control, aged-exercise, aged-LLLT, aged-LLLT/exercise group, and young-control animals. Aerobic capacity (VO2max) was analyzed before and after training period. The aged-exercise and aged-LLLT/exercise groups were trained for 6 weeks. LLLT laser was applied before each training session with 808 nm and 4 J of energy to the indicated groups throughout training. The rats were euthanized, and muscle tissue and serum were collected for muscle cross-sectional area and IL-6 and TNF-α protein analysis. In VO2 showed statistical difference between young- and aged-control groups (used as baseline) (p < 0.05). The same difference can be observed in the young control group compared with all intervention groups (exercise, LLLT and LLLT + exercise). In comparison with the aged-control group, a difference was observed only for comparison with the exercise group (p < 0.05), and exercise associated with LLLT group (p < 0.001). Levels of IL-6 and TNF-α for the aged-exercise and the aged-LLLT/exercise groups were significantly decreased compared to the aged-control group (p < 0.05). Analysis of the transverse section of the gastrocnemius muscle showed a significant difference between the aged-exercise and aged-LLLT/exercise groups (p < 0.001). These results suggest that laser therapy in conjunction with aerobic training may provide a therapeutic approach for reducing the inflammatory markers (IL-6 and TNF-α), however, LLLT without exercise was not able to improve physical performance of aged rats.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by grant number 2009/54225-8 from the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP).

Conflicts of interest

Professor Ernesto Cesar Pinto Leal-Junior receives research support from Multi Radiance Medical (Solon, OH, USA), a laser device manufacturer. The remaining authors declare that they have no conflict of interests.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Postgraduate Program in Biophotonics Applied Health Sciences, Universidade Nove de Julho (UNINOVE), São Paulo, SP, Brazil

    Eliane Martins Amadio, Andrey Jorge Serra, Ernesto Cesar Pinto Leal-Junior & Paulo de Tarso Camillo de Carvalho

  2. Postgraduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, Universidade Nove de Julho (UNINOVE), Rua Vergueiro 235, São Paulo, SP, Brazil

    Simone A. Guaraldo, Ernesto Cesar Pinto Leal-Junior & Paulo de Tarso Camillo de Carvalho

  3. Postgraduate Program in Medicine, Universidade Nove de Julho (UNINOVE), Rua Vergueiro 235, São Paulo, SP, Brazil

    José Antônio Silva Jr

  4. Department of Cardiology, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil

    Ednei Luis Antônio, Flávio Silva, Leslie Andrews Portes & Paulo José Ferreira Tucci

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  1. Eliane Martins Amadio
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  2. Andrey Jorge Serra
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  3. Simone A. Guaraldo
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  9. Ernesto Cesar Pinto Leal-Junior
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  10. Paulo de Tarso Camillo de Carvalho
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Correspondence to Paulo de Tarso Camillo de Carvalho.

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Amadio, E.M., Serra, A.J., Guaraldo, S.A. et al. The action of pre-exercise low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on the expression of IL-6 and TNF-α proteins and on the functional fitness of elderly rats subjected to aerobic training. Lasers Med Sci 30, 1127–1134 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-015-1713-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-015-1713-x

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