Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2024, Vol. 28 ›› Issue (19): 3069-3075.doi: 10.12307/2024.163

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Photobiomodulation-induced osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells

Song Yue1, 2, Shu Qing2, Jia Shaohui1, Tian Jun1, 2   

  1. 1College of Sports Medicine, Wuhan Sports University, Wuhan 430079, Hubei Province, China; 2Department of Rehabilitation, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, Hubei Province, China
  • Received:2023-04-28 Accepted:2023-06-15 Online:2024-07-08 Published:2023-09-26
  • Contact: Tian Jun, MD, Chief physician, Master’s supervisor, College of Sports Medicine, Wuhan Sports University, Wuhan 430079, Hubei Province, China; Department of Rehabilitation, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, Hubei Province, China
  • About author:Song Yue, Master candidate, College of Sports Medicine, Wuhan Sports University, Wuhan 430079, Hubei Province, China; Department of Rehabilitation, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, Hubei Province, China
  • Supported by:
    National Natural Science Foundation of China (General Program), No. 82174494 (to TJ)

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Mesenchymal stem cells are pluripotent stromal cells isolated from a variety of tissues, which can differentiate into osteoblasts under certain conditions. Photobiomodulation, as an external stimulus, can promote osteogenic differentiation combined with other inducers or alone, providing new ideas for solving a series of bone diseases.
OBJECTIVE: To review the relevant literature and mechanisms of photobiomodulation-induced osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells, which will lay a theoretical foundation for bone tissue engineering using mesenchymal stem cells as seed cells and may offer some suggestions for future studies.
METHODS: Relevant articles were searched on CNKI, PubMed and Wed of Science databases with Chinese search terms of “photobiomodulation, low power laser, low level laser, light-emitting diode, mesenchymal stem cells, osteogenic differentiation, biomaterials” and English search terms of “photobiomodulation, low level laser (light), light-emitting diode (LED), mesenchymal stem cell, osteogenic differentiation, biomaterials”. Finally, 88 articles were included for analysis.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Photobiomodulation represented by low level laser and diode laser has a positive effect on promoting the proliferation and differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells. (2) Photobiomodulation can induce osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells, whose feasibility has been verified in cell and animal experiments. On one hand, photobiomodulation can promote the expansion and differentiation of stem cells in vitro by activating related signaling pathways and up-regulating the expression of osteogenic molecules. On the other hand, photobiomodulation can improve the survival rate of stem cells in vivo, promote homing effect and shorten the healing time of bone defects after stem cells are injected into the body. However, photobiomodulation has a biphasic dose effect, whose laser parameters, experimental environment, cell type and other factors in various studies are different, making the research results lack consistency and difficult to apply in the clinic. (3) Combined with biological materials, other physical factors and drugs, photobiomodulation can also accelerate osteogenic differentiation. (4) In conclusion, photobiomodulation has been used increasingly widely in the medical field with its advantages of non-invasive, efficient and less-side reactions, and its role in bone tissue engineering has gradually become prominent, which provides a new method for the treatment of bone defects and related diseases. Further exploration should be focused on the standardized treatment parameters of photobiomodulation.

Key words: photobiomodulation, low level laser, low power laser, light-emitting diode, mesenchymal stem cell, osteogenic differentiation, cell experiment, animal experiment, physical factor therapy, biomaterial

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