Photobiomodulation limits oral ulcer development by regulating the immune response.

Area of Science:

• Oral medicine and immunology
• Wound healing research
• Photomedicine

Background:

• Oral ulcers (OU) are common oral mucosal diseases with significant immune involvement.
• Photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy shows potential for healing and pain relief, but its early effects on ulcers are not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish a mouse model for early persistent oral ulcer aggravation.
• To evaluate the therapeutic impact of PBM on this early ulcer model.
• To investigate the specific immune cell responses to PBM during ulcer development.

Main Methods:

• An oral ulcer model was created in C57BL/6 mice, followed by PBM treatment.
• Histological analyses (H&E, stem cell IF, collagen III IHC) assessed wound healing.
• Flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry identified changes in neutrophils, macrophages, T cells, and B cells.

Main Results:

• PBM treatment significantly reduced ulcer aggravation and inflammation.
• PBM decreased neutrophil and Th1 cell counts.
• PBM promoted M2 macrophage polarization and regulatory T cell (Treg) generation.

Conclusions:

• This study elucidates PBM's immunomodulatory effects in early oral ulcer development.
• Findings provide a mechanistic understanding of PBM's therapeutic benefits for oral ulcers.
• Results offer a theoretical foundation for PBM's clinical application in treating oral ulcers.