Effects of Photobiomodulation Associated with Platelet-Rich Plasma in Acute Rheumatoid Arthritis Induced in Female Wistar Rats’ Knee

Abstract

Objective:

Rheumatoid arthritis causes inflammation, pain, and joint degradation, necessitating treatment with anti-inflammatory drugs and corticosteroids, posing various challenges. We aimed to evaluate the effects of photobiomodulation (PBM) at two different doses associated to platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in an in vivo model of induced acute arthritis in Wistar rats’ knee.

Methods:

Eighty-four Wistar rats were assigned into seven groups, including animals treated with PBM and/or PRP. On day 0, arthritis was induced in sham and treated groups through the intra-articular injection of zymosan (200 μg). Twenty-four hours after induction, the PBM groups were treated with an AsGaAl laser, whereas the PRP-treated groups received intra-articular injections with a concentration of 8 × 10⁵ platelets obtained from another four animals. After 3 days, the animals were euthanized, and the interleukin (IL)-6 and complement C3 gene and protein expression levels were analyzed. Statistical analysis was performed using the mean ± SD with analysis of variance and Tukey’s posttest, with a significance level set at 5% (p < 0.05).

Results:

Synovial inflammation decreased in PBM-treated groups; however, PRP alone showed no significant difference. Gene expression analysis revealed a significant difference in IL-6 and C3 levels in the PBM and PBM+PRP-treated groups. Meanwhile, the PRP alone group exhibited significance for IL-6. Moreover, the PBM and PBM+PRP-treated groups showed a significant difference in C3 protein expression levels, whereas the PRP alone group showed no difference.

Conclusion:

The increase in cellular activity in the synovial membrane and the decrease protein expression levels are owing to the reduction in proinflammatory mediators following PBM therapy.