Photobiomodulation therapy improves human dental pulp stem cell viability and migration in vitro associated to upregulation of histone acetylation

This in vitro study evaluated the role of photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) on viability and migration of human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) and its association to epigenetic mechanisms such as histone acetylation. The hDPSCs were characterized and assigned into control and PBMT groups. For the PBMT, five laser irradiations at 6-h intervals were performed using a continuous-wave InGaAlP diode laser. Viability (MTT), migration (scratch), and histone acetylation H3 (H3K9ac immunofluorescence) were evaluated immediately after the last irradiation. PBMT significantly increased the viability ( P = 0.004). Also, PBMT group showed significantly increased migration of cells in the wound compared to the control in 6 h ( P = 0.002), 12 h ( P = 0.014) and 18 h ( P = 0.083) being faster than the control, which only finished the process at 24 h. PBMT induced epigenetic modifications in hDPSC due to increased histone acetylation ( P = 0.001). PBMT increased viability and migration of hDPSCs, which are related with the upregulation of histone acetylation and could be considered a promising adjuvant therapy for regenerative endodontic treatment.