Demonstration of elevated type I and type III procollagen mRNA levels in cutaneous wounds treated with helium-neon laser. Proposed mechanism for enhanced wound healing.
To assess laser modulation of wound healing, full-thickness cutaneous wounds were produced in the backs of pigs, and subjected to treatment with helium-neon laser. For comparison, some wounds were treated with non-laser energy source (a tungsten light) or left untreated as controls. Type I and type III procollagen mRNA levels were determined in the wounds by molecular hybridization with cDNA probes. The results indicated that type I and type III mRNA levels were markedly increased at days 17 and 28 of the healing in wounds treated with He-Ne laser, when compared to control or tungsten light-treated wounds. The results suggest that helium-neon laser stimulates wound healing by enhancing procollagen gene expression. These observations may have relevance to previous clinical studies suggesting that helium-neon laser stimulates wound healing.
D000818:Animals; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000528:radiation effects; D007834:Lasers; D011347:Procollagen / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D012879:Skin Physiological Phenomena; D013552:Swine; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000528:radiation effects
D011347:Procollagen; D012333:RNA, Messenger