Effects of Laser Photobiomodulation on TGF-β and VEGF Expression in Burn Wound: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis in the Animal Model

Laser photobiomodulation (laser PBM) is known to be able to accelerate burn wound healing in the animal model; however little evidence exists on the action of laser PBM on the expression of important proteins in wound healing in the animal model, such as VEGF and TGF-beta 1. The aim of this study was to carry out a systematic review in order to analyse the effect of laser PBM on VEGF and TGF-beta expression during burn wound repair in the animal model. A systematic review was carried out of the EMBASE, PubMed/MEDLINE and LILACS databases. The studies included were preclinical studies that analysed the action of laser PBM on the expression of VEGF and TGF-beta (1, 2, 3) during burn wound repair in the animal model. The SYRCLE risk of bias tool was used. Random effect models were used to estimate the combined effect. Increased VEGF expression was observed with the use of laser PBM at 4.93 J/cm(2) per point in the first two weeks after induction of the burn wound, with greater size of effect in the second week (SDM = 5.72; 95% CI: 3.14 to 8.31, I-2 = 0 %; very low certainty of evidence). We also observed that the effect of laser PBM on TGF-beta 1 expression was greater than in the control in the first week (SDM =-0.45; 95% CI:-1.91 to 1.02, I-2 = 51 %; very low certainty of evidence), but diminished in the third week after induction of the lesion (SDM =-2.50; 95% CI: 3.98 to-1.01, I-2 = 0 %; very low certainty of evidence). Laser PBM has an effect on TGF-beta 1 and VEGF expression, promoting burn wound repair in the animal model.

Automated summary

The study found that laser photobiomodulation (laser PBM) has an effect on the expression of important proteins VEGF and TGF-beta 1 during burn wound repair in the animal model, promoting the healing process.