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Low-level laser irradiation stimulates tenocyte proliferation in association with increased NO synthesis and upregulation of PCNA and cyclins

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Abstract

Low-level laser therapy is commonly used to treat tendinopathy or tendon injury. Tendon healing requires tenocyte migration to the repair site, followed by proliferation and synthesis of the extracellular matrix. There are few evidence to elucidate that low-level laser promote tenocyte proliferation. This study was designed to determine the effect of laser on tenocyte proliferation. Furthermore, the association of this effect with secretion of nitric oxide (NO) and the expressions of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and cyclins D1, E, A, and B1 was investigated. Tenocytes intrinsic to rat Achilles tendon were treated with low-level laser (660 nm). Tenocyte proliferation was evaluated by MTT assay and immunocytochemistry with Ki-67 stain. NO in the conditioned medium was measured by ELISA. Western blot analysis was used to evaluate the protein expressions of PCNA and cyclins D1, E, A, and B1. The results revealed that tenocytes proliferation was enhanced dose dependently by laser. NO secretion was increased after laser treatment. PCNA and cyclins E, A, and B1 were upregulated by laser. In conclusion, low-level laser irradiation stimulates tenocyte proliferation in a process that is mediated by upregulation of NO, PCNA, and cyclins E, A, and B1.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the National Science of Council, Taiwan, for the financial support of this research (grant no. 99-2314-B-182A-108).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Gueishan Township, Taoyuan County, Taiwan

    Wen-Chung Tsai, Ju-Wen Cheng, Jean-Lon Chen, Chen-Yin Chen, Yu-Hsin Liao & Miao-Sui Lin

  2. College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Gueishan Township, Taoyuan County, Taiwan

    Wen-Chung Tsai & Jean-Lon Chen

  3. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Taiwan Landseed Hospital, Ping-jen City, Taoyuan County, Taiwan

    Hsiang-Ning Chang

  4. Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences, Chang Gung University, 259, Wen-Hwa 1st Road, Gueishan Township, Taoyuan County, 333, Taiwan

    Jong-Hwei S. Pang

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  1. Wen-Chung Tsai
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  4. Chen-Yin Chen
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  8. Jong-Hwei S. Pang
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Correspondence to Jong-Hwei S. Pang.

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Tsai, WC., Cheng, JW., Chen, JL. et al. Low-level laser irradiation stimulates tenocyte proliferation in association with increased NO synthesis and upregulation of PCNA and cyclins. Lasers Med Sci 29, 1377–1384 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-014-1528-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-014-1528-1

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