Effect of photobiomodulation therapy on inflammatory cytokines in healing dynamics of diabetic wounds: a systematic review of preclinical studies

Abstract

Context: Delayed wound healing in diabetes mellitus (DM) is due to the overlapping phases of the healing process. The prolonged inflammation and altered levels of inflammatory cytokines lead to deformed cell proliferation. Photobiomodulation alleviates the expression of inflammatory cytokines and promotes tissue repair, thereby restoring the wound healing process.

Objective: To find out the effect of photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) in the healing dynamics of diabetic wounds with particular emphasis on interleukin-6, interleukin-1β, and tumour necrosis factor-α.

Methods: Scientific databases searched using keywords of the population: DM, intervention: PBMT, and outcomes: inflammatory cytokines.

Results: We have included five preclinical studies in the present systematic review for qualitative analysis. These studies evaluated the effect of PBMT at different wavelengths, dosage, and time on wound healing in DM.

Conclusions: The systematic review concludes that PBMT regulates inflammatory cytokines levels, enhances cell proliferation, and migration, thereby improving the wound healing properties.

Keywords: Photobiomodulation therapy; anti-inflammatory cytokines; inflammatory response; pro-inflammatory cytokines; wound healing in diabetes mellitus.