Kunimatsu Ryo, Nakatani Ayaka, Sakata Shuzo, Tanimoto Kotaro
Department of Orthodontics and Craniofacial Developmental Biology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima 734-8553, Japan.
Department of Orthodontics, Division of Oral Health and Development, Hiroshima University Hospital, Hiroshima 734-8553, Japan.
Int J Mol Sci. 2025 Sep 16;26(18):8997. doi: 10.3390/ijms26188997.
Osteoarthritis (OA) is an inflammatory disorder characterized by metabolic changes in the bone tissue, including the degeneration of hyaline cartilage (articular cartilage) and fibrocartilage (including the meniscus and labrum), sclerosis of the subchondral bone, and osteophyte formation. OA poses a major challenge for adults of all ages, leading to increased morbidity and decreased quality of life. The current conventional therapies mainly focus on pain control, with no definitive or regenerative therapies to reverse OA progression available. Lasers consist of electromagnetic waves generated by radiation emitted by an excited material. In medicine and dentistry, photobiomodulation by low-power laser therapy (photobiomodulation therapy [PBMT]) has been widely applied clinically to promote healing, regenerate tissue, modulate inflammation, and relieve pain. Basic studies have explored the regulation of OA manifestations and joint inflammation using PBMT, as well as the mechanisms of action involved, and clinical research has validated the beneficial effects of PBMT for patients with OA. However, the effects of PBM on OA and its mechanisms of action remain unknown. Herein, we review basic research that has examined the effects of PBMT on OA using in vitro and in vivo testing and discuss future challenges and prospects.
骨关节炎（OA）是一种炎症性疾病，其特征在于骨组织的代谢变化，包括透明软骨（关节软骨）和纤维软骨（包括半月板和盂唇）的退化、软骨下骨硬化和骨赘形成。OA对所有年龄段的成年人构成重大挑战，导致发病率增加和生活质量下降。目前的传统疗法主要侧重于疼痛控制，尚无明确的或再生性疗法可逆转OA的进展。激光由受激物质发射的辐射产生的电磁波组成。在医学和牙科领域，低功率激光疗法的光生物调节作用（光生物调节疗法[PBMT]）已在临床上广泛应用，以促进愈合、再生组织、调节炎症和缓解疼痛。基础研究已经探索了使用PBMT对OA表现和关节炎症的调节作用以及相关作用机制，临床研究也证实了PBMT对OA患者的有益效果。然而，PBMT对OA的影响及其作用机制仍然未知。在此，我们综述了使用体外和体内试验研究PBMT对OA影响的基础研究，并讨论未来的挑战和前景。
