The impact of glucose concentration on the efficacy of photobiomodulation in collagen production by human fibroblasts

Abstract

This study investigates the effects of photobiomodulation(PBM) on collagen production in human fibroblasts cultured in media with different glucose concentrations. It has been shown that PBM enhances cellular metabolism and is commonly used in various therapeutic applications, including wound healing. However, its effectiveness may be influenced by factors such as glucose levels, particularly in diabetic conditions where high glucose can impair wound healing. In this work fibroblasts were cultured in both normal (5.5 mM) and high (22.5 mM) glucose media and treated with different PBM light doses. The results showed that cells grown in normal glucose concentrations responded better to PBM at 2.5 J/cm² of red light, exhibiting increased cell viability, mitochondrial area and collagen production, the latter with a statistically significant difference. In contrast, fibroblasts in high glucose conditions showed only a minimal increase in cell viability and collagen production, regardless of PBM treatment. The study highlights the significant impact of glucose concentration on PBM efficacy, suggesting that glucose levels play a crucial role in the cellular responseto PBM. These findings point to the importance of considering environmental factors, such as glucose availability, to optimize PBM treatments.