title: Superpulsed low-level laser therapy protects skeletal muscle of mdx mice against damage, inflammation and morphological changes delaying dystrophy progression.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effects of preventive treatment with low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on progression of dystrophy in mdx mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten animals were randomly divided into 2 experimental groups treated with superpulsed LLLT (904 nm, 15 mW, 700 Hz, 1 J) or placebo-LLLT at one point overlying the tibialis anterior muscle (bilaterally) 5 times per week for 14 weeks (from 6th to 20th week of age). Morphological changes, creatine kinase (CK) activity and mRNA gene expression were assessed in animals at 20th week of age.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Animals treated with LLLT showed very few morphological changes in skeletal muscle, with less atrophy and fibrosis than animals treated with placebo-LLLT. CK was significantly lower (p=0.0203) in animals treated with LLLT (864.70 U.l-1, SEM 226.10) than placebo (1708.00 U.l-1, SEM 184.60). mRNA gene expression of inflammatory markers was significantly decreased by treatment with LLLT (p<0.05): TNF-α (placebo-control=0.51 µg/µl [SEM 0.12], - LLLT=0.048 µg/µl [SEM 0.01]), IL-1β (placebo-control=2.292 µg/µl [SEM 0.74], - LLLT=0.12 µg/µl [SEM 0.03]), IL-6 (placebo-control=3.946 µg/µl [SEM 0.98], - LLLT=0.854 µg/µl [SEM 0.33]), IL-10 (placebo-control=1.116 µg/µl [SEM 0.22], - LLLT=0.352 µg/µl [SEM 0.15]), and COX-2 (placebo-control=4.984 µg/µl [SEM 1.18], LLLT=1.470 µg/µl [SEM 0.73]).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Irradiation of superpulsed LLLT on successive days five times per week for 14 weeks decreased morphological changes, skeletal muscle damage and inflammation in mdx mice. This indicates that LLLT has potential to decrease progression of Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, Universidade Nove de Julho (UNINOVE), São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Postgraduate Program in Biophotonics Applied to Health Sciences, Universidade Nove de Julho (UNINOVE), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ernesto Cesar Pinto
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Leal-Junior
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, Universidade Nove de Julho (UNINOVE), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Patrícia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: de Almeida
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Shaiane Silva
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Tomazoni
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, Universidade Nove de Julho (UNINOVE), São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Postgraduate Program in Biophotonics Applied to Health Sciences, Universidade Nove de Julho (UNINOVE), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Paulo de Tarso Camillo
authors.initials: Pde T
authors.lastname: de Carvalho
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rodrigo Álvaro Brandão
authors.initials: RÁ
authors.lastname: Lopes-Martins
authors.affiliation: Biological Sciences and Health Center, Cruzeiro do Sul University, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lucio
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Frigo
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy and Radiography, Bergen University College, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Jon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Joensen
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Leeds Metropolitan University, Leeds, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Mark I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: Physiotherapy Research Group, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Jan Magnus
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Bjordal
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018450:Disease Progression; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000528:radiation effects; D007378:Interleukins / Q000378:metabolism; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy; D008297:Male; D018101:Mice, Inbred mdx; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D020388:Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D007378:Interleukins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C077623:Ptgs2 protein, mouse; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D003402:Creatine Kinase