Effects of low level light irradiation on the migration of mesenchymal stem cells derived from rat bone marrow

Low level light irradiation (LLLI) was found to exert positive effects on various cells in vitro. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of LLLI on the migration of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (rbMSCs). Light irradiation was applied at the energy density of 4 J/cm² using red (630 nm) and near infrared (NIR, 850 nm) light emitting diodes (LEDs). Wound healing assay showed both red and NIR light irradiation increased cell mobility. Red and NIR light enhanced transmembrane migration of rbMSCs up to 292.9% and 263.6% accordingly. This agreed with enzymatic activities of MMP-2 and MMP-9 enhanced by irradiation. F-actin accumulation and distribution correlated to increased migration in light-irradiated MSCs. Reactive oxygen species production as well as the expression of pFAK and pNF-κB were elevated after red and NIR LLLI. The study demonstrated that red and NIR LLLI increased rbMSCs migration and identified the phosphorylation of FAK and NF-κB as critical steps for the elevated cell migration upon LLLI.