Low-level laser therapy in IL-1β, COX-2, and PGE2 modulation in partially injured Achilles tendon

This study evaluated IL-1 beta, COX-2, and PGE2 modulation in partially injured Achilles tendons treated with low-level laser therapy (LLLT). Sixty-five male Wistar rats were used. Sixty were submitted to a direct injury on Achilles tendon and then distributed into six groups: LASER 1 (a single LLLT application), LASER 3 (three LLLT applications), and LASER 7 (seven LLLT applications) and Sham 1, 3, and 7 (the same injury but LLLT applications were simulated). The five remaining animals were allocated at control group (no procedure performed). LLLT (780 nm) was applied with 70 mW of mean power and 17.5 J/cm(2) of fluency for 10 s, once a day. The tendons were surgically removed and assessed immunohistochemically for IL-1 beta, COX-2, and PGE2. In comparisons with control (IL-1 beta: 100.5 +/- 92.5 / COX-2: 180.1 +/- 97.1 / PGE2: 187.8 +/- 128.8) IL-1 beta exhibited (mean +/- SD) near-normal level (p > 0.05) at LASER 3 (142.0 +/- 162.4). COX-2 and PGE2 exhibited near-normal levels (p > 0.05) at LASER 3 (COX-2: 176.9 +/- 75.4 / PGE2: 297.2 +/- 259.6) and LASER 7 (COX-2: 259.2 +/- 190.4 / PGE2: 587.1 +/- 409.7). LLLT decreased Achilles tendon's inflammatory process.