Effects of low-level Er:YAG laser irradiation on endothelial angiogenic responses in diabetes: an in vitro study

Authors

• Bruna Akinaga Moreira, Department of Periodontology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Institute of Science Tokyo (Science Tokyo), Tokyo, Japan
• Koji Mizutani, Department of General Dentistry, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Institute of Science Tokyo (Science Tokyo), Tokyo, JapanFollow
• Natsumi Saito, Department of Periodontology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Institute of Science Tokyo (Science Tokyo), Tokyo, Japan
• Lu Chen, Department of Periodontology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Institute of Science Tokyo (Science Tokyo), Tokyo, Japan
• Shu Takemura, Department of General Dentistry, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Institute of Science Tokyo (Science Tokyo), Tokyo, Japan
• Keita Nakagawa, Department of General Dentistry, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Institute of Science Tokyo (Science Tokyo), Tokyo, Japan
• Yujin Ohsugi, Department of Oral Biomedical Sciences, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Institute of Science Tokyo (Science Tokyo), Tokyo, Japan
• Taichen Lin, Department of Periodontology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Institute of Science Tokyo (Science Tokyo), Tokyo, Japan
• Takanori Iwata, Department of Periodontology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Institute of Science Tokyo (Science Tokyo), Tokyo, Japan
• Akira Aoki, Department of Periodontology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Institute of Science Tokyo (Science Tokyo), Tokyo, Japan

Abstract

Background/purpose: Low-level Er:YAG laser irradiation has been reported to promote angiogenesis-related endothelial responses and enhance periodontal tissue healing. However, its effects on angiogenesis under hyperglycemic conditions have not been investigated. This study aimed to investigate whether low-level Er:YAG laser irradiation enhances the angiogenic response under hyperglycemic conditions.

Materials and methods: Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were cultured in control-glucose (CG, 5.5 mM) or high-glucose (HG, 25 mM) medium and subjected to low-level laser irradiation (LLLI) using an Er:YAG laser at 10 Hz and 30 mJ/pulse for 30 s under two pulse-widths. Angiogenesis-related cellular functions were evaluated by assessing cell proliferation, migration, tube formation, and mRNA expression. Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were measured.

Results: Although cell proliferation and migration significantly decreased under HG conditions (P < 0.01, P < 0.001), both were significantly restored after LLLI, reaching levels comparable to or higher than those in the CG control group. Under HG conditions, tube formation decreased; however, after LLLI, tube formation recovered, with significantly increased numbers of nodes, junctions, and segments, compared to those in the CG control group (P < 0.05). mRNA expression was not affected by HG medium, but vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and angiopoietin 1 (ANGPT1) expression significantly increased following LLLI (P < 0.05). ROS levels were significantly increased in the HG control group (P < 0.001), whereas the laser-treated groups showed significantly reduced ROS levels under HG conditions (P < 0.01).

Conclusion: Low-level Er:YAG laser irradiation improved impaired angiogenesis-related cellular functions under hyperglycemic conditions.

Recommended Citation

Moreira, Bruna Akinaga; Mizutani, Koji; Saito, Natsumi; Chen, Lu; Takemura, Shu; Nakagawa, Keita; Ohsugi, Yujin; Lin, Taichen; Iwata, Takanori; and Aoki, Akira (2026) "Effects of low-level Er:YAG laser irradiation on endothelial angiogenic responses in diabetes: an in vitro study," Journal of Dental Sciences: Vol. 21: Iss. 4, Article 18.
Available at: https://jds.ads.org.tw/journal/vol21/iss4/18

Publication Date

2026

Received Date

May 09 2026

Accepted Date

June 02 2026

Final Revision Date

June 02 2026