INHIBITION OF PROSTAGLANDIN E(2) AND INTERLEUKIN-1-BETA PRODUCTION BY LOW-POWER LASER IRRADIATION IN STRETCHED HUMAN PERIODONTAL-LIGAMENT CELLS

It is well-known that orthodontic treatment usually causes some discomfort and pain to the patients. Recently, it has been reported that low-power laser irradiation is effective in reducing the pain accompanying tooth movement. However, the mechanism of such pain relief cannot be elucidated. Since high levels of prostaglandin (PG) E(2) and interleukin (IL)-1 beta are found in the periodontal ligament (PDL) during tooth movement, and both factors are involved in the induction of pain, the effects of low-power laser irradiation on PGE(2) and IL-1 beta production in stretched human PDL cells were studied in vitro. The PDL cells, derived from healthy premolars extracted for orthodontic treatment, were utilized for experiments. Cells were seeded in flexible-bottomed culture plates, and the bottom of each plate was elongated (18% increase) under vacuum at 6 cycles per min for 1, 3, or 5 days. The stretched cells were irradiated with a Ga-Al-As low-power diode laser (60 mW) once a day for 3, 6, or 10 min (from 10.8 to 36.0 J) for 1, 3, or 5 days. PGE(2) and IL-1 beta levels in the medium were measured by radioimmunoassay. In response to mechanical stretching, human PDL cells showed a marked elevation in PGE(2) production in a time-dependent manner. IL-1 beta production was also elevated, but this remained constant; The increase in PGE(2) production was significantly inhibited by laser irradiation in a dose-dependent manner. The increase in IL-1 beta production was also significantly inhibited by laser irradiation, although the inhibition was only partial. Its inhibitory effects on PGE(2) and IL-1 beta production suggest that laser irradiation may have great therapeutic benefits in bringing about relief of the pain that accompanies orthodontic treatment.