Low-Energy Helium-Neon Laser Induces Locomotion of the Immature Melanoblasts and Promotes Melanogenesis of the More Differentiated Melanoblasts: Recapitulation of Vitiligo Repigmentation In Vitro

Abstract

Helium-neon laser (He-Ne Laser, 632.8 nm) is a low-energy laser that has therapeutic efficacy on various clinical conditions. Our previous study has demonstrated efficacy of He-Ne laser on vitiligo, a disease characterized by skin depigmentation. To regain skin tone on vitiligo lesions, the process began by the migration of the immature melanoblasts (MBs) to the epidermis, which was followed by their functional development to produce melanin. In this study, we investigated the physiologic effects of He-Ne laser irradiation on two MB cell lines: the immature NCCmelb4 and the more differentiated NCCmelan5. The intricate interactions between MBs with their innate extracelluar matrix, fibronectin, were also addressed. Our results showed that He-Ne laser irradiation enhanced NCCmelb4 mobility via enhanced phosphorylated focal adhesion kinase expression and promoted melanogenesis in NCCmelan5. In addition, He-Ne laser decreased the affinity between NCCmelb4 and fibronectin, whereas the attachment of NCCmelan5 to fibronectin increased. The alpha5beta1 integrin expression on NCCmelb4 cells was enhanced by He-Ne laser. In conclusion, we have demonstrated that He-Ne laser induced different physiologic changes on MBs at different maturation stages and recapitulated the early events during vitiligo repigmentation process brought upon by He-Ne laser in vitro.

Influence of He-Ne laser therapy on the dynamics of wound healing in mice treated with anti-inflammatory drugs

“…The present data ( Figure 2B) agree with those reported by others (3,(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24), showing that He-Ne (633 nm) laser application induces a more mature scar, displaying collagen fibers arranged in parallel. Our results also show that the presence of an anti-inflammatory drug, either a steroidal or a nonsteroidal drug, does not inhibit the biostimulatory effects of laser photostimulation.…”

“…Other studies (11,12,14,18,22) using He-Ne low-energy laser have indicated that it is mainly the laser energy at 633 nm wavelength that affects the healing dynamics, producing changes in the early phase of the repair process, i.e., the inflammatory phase.…”

“…A large body of evidence from in vitro and in vivo studies has suggested that LILT enhances collagen synthesis (4-6,10), increases the motility of keratinocytes (17), releases growth factors (15,17), and promotes the transformation of fibroblasts into myofibroblasts (4)(5)(6)15,(17)(18)(19). On the other hand, the idea of investigating the early phase of the skin repair process under the influence of anti-inflammatory agents (a corticosteroid or a cyclooxygenase (COX-2) inhibitor) was based on the known pharmacological properties of such drugs and on their broad clinical use and side-effects (20)(21)(22)(23)(24). Studies have shown that during normal wound healing the inflammatory phase lasts up to two days (3,(24)(25)(26).…”

Efeitos da aplicação do L.A.S.E.R. HeNe e do ultravioleta B no vitiligo

“…mostra ter um efeito importante no desencadeamento da proliferação celular, diferenciação e apoptose em vários tipos celulares (5,21). Em particular, o L.A.S.E.R.…”

“…Em particular, o L.A.S.E.R. de baixa energia tem demonstrado um papel terapêutico em diversas situações, como na artrite reumatoide, na cicatrização de feridas, na nevralgia pós-herpética, na recuperação da lesão do nervo e no vitiligo (20,21).…”