Inhibition of fibroblast proliferation in vitro using low-level infrared light-emitting diodes.

Background: Scars, including hypertrophic and keloidal-type scars, may occur after burns, trauma, or surgery. Despite several treatment options available for scars, few effective, noninvasive modalities exist. Recently, a few small clinical studies revealed the possible benefit of red and infrared (IR) low-level light therapy (LLLT) in scar treatment. One of the important features of scars is proliferation of dermal fibroblasts, but in vitro data regarding the effects of light-emitting diode (LED)-generated IR light on human skin fibroblasts is lacking.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of IR LLLT generated using LEDs on fibroblast proliferation and viability in vitro.

Methods And Materials: Irradiation of normal human skin fibroblasts using IR LED panels was performed in vitro, and modulation of proliferation and viability was quantified using Trypan blue dye exclusion assay.

Results: Fluences of 80, 160 and 320 J/cm(2) resulted in statistically significantly less fibroblast proliferation than in controls, without statistically significantly less cellular viability.

Conclusion: IR LLLT can effectively inhibit fibroblast proliferation in vitro without altering viability and holds promise for the treatment of scars.