Comparative study of the efficacy of pulsed electromagnetic field and low level laser therapy on mitogen-activated protein kinases

Abstract

Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases (MAPKs) consist of three major signaling members: extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), p38 and C-JUN N-terminal kinase (JNK). We investigated physiological effects of Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy (PEMFT) and Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) on human body, adopting the expression level of mitogen-activated protein kinases as an indicator via assessment of the activation levels of three major families of MAPKS, ERK, p38 and JNK in the peripheral lymphocytes of patients before and after the therapies. Assessment for the expression levels of MAPKs families' were done, in the peripheral lymphocytes of patients recently have appendectomy, using flow cytometric analysis of multiple signaling pathways, pre and post LLLT and PEMFT application (twice daily for 6 successive days) on the appendectomy wound. There were non-significant differences in the expression levels of MAPKs families' pre- therapies application. But there were significant increase in the ERK expression levels post application of LLLT compared to its pre application (p<0.01). Also, there was significant increase in the ERK, p38 and C-Jun N terminal expression level values post application of PEMFT compared to its pre application expression levels (p<0.01 for each). The present study demonstrates that PEMFT has a powerful healing effect more than LLLT as it increase the activation of ERK, P38 and C-Jun-N Terminal while LLLT only increase the activation of ERK. LLLT has more potent pain decreasing effect than PEMFT as it does not activate P38 pathway like PEMFT.

Cellular Signalling and Photobiomodulation in Chronic Wound Repair

“…Expression levels of MAPK was determined in peripheral lymphocytes. The findings indicated that there was a significant increase in ERK expression levels but not in the expression levels of p38 and JNK [102].…”

“…VEGF is a potent pro-neoangiogenic cytokine [109], essential for neovascularization during the wound restorative process [101]. In another study, El-Makakey et al [102] conducted a comparative study monitoring the physiological effects of pulse electromagnetic field therapy (PEMFT) and PBM on the human body. They reported on the use of a pulsed wave diode laser at a wavelength of 905 nm with an impulse duration of 100 ns and a peak power of 25 W. The 25 patients to whom PBM alone was applied were subjected to the treatment twice daily for six successive days at the site of the appendectomy wound (3-4 cm).…”