Expression of genes in normal fibroblast cells (WS1) in response to irradiation at 660 nm

• Laser irradiation alters expression of 76 genes involved in the extracellular matrix.
• Laser irradiation alters expression of genes involved in inflammation.
• Laser irradiation alters expression of genes involved in signal transduction.

Photobiomodulation has been found to increase gene expression and release of various growth factors and cytokines involved in wound healing. Photobiomodulation has been used to treat a wide variety of disorders, and has been found to be beneficial in the treatment of chronic wounds, however the exact underlying mechanism is not well understood. This study aimed to profile 84 genes in response to irradiation at 660 nm. WS1 human skin fibroblasts were used in gene expression profiling studies in response to irradiation with a 660 nm diode laser at a fluence of 5 J/cm2 and power density of 11 mW/cm2. Forty-eight hours post-irradiation, 1 μg RNA was reverse transcribed and used in real-time qualitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Genes involved in the extracellular matrix and cell adhesion, inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, growth factors and signal transduction were evaluated. A total of 76 genes were regulated by laser irradiation, 43 genes were up-regulated while 33 genes were down-regulated. Irradiation of WS1 cells at 660 nm modulates the expression of genes involved in collagen production, cellular adhesion, remodelling and spreading, the cytoskeleton, inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, growth factors and molecules involved in signal transduction.