Ex vivo soft-laser treatment inhibits the synovial expression of vimentin and α-enolase, potential autoantigens in rheumatoid arthritis

Background: Soft-laser therapy has been used to treat rheumatic diseases for decades. The major effects of laser treatment may be dependent not on thermal mechanisms but rather on cellular, photochemical mechanisms. However, the exact cellular and molecular mechanisms of action have not been elucidated.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the ex vivo effects of low-level laser treatment (with physical parameters similar to those applied previously) on protein expression in the synovial membrane in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Design: Synovial tissues were laser irradiated, and protein expression was analyzed.