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The literature has shown the beneficial effects of microcurrent (MC) therapy on tissue repair. We investigated if the application of MC at 10 μA/90 s could modulate the expression of remodeling genes transforming growth factor beta (Tgfb), connective tissue growth factor (Ctgf), insulin-like growth factor 1 (Igf1), tenascin C (Tnc), Fibronectin (Fn1), Scleraxis (Scx), Fibromodulin (Fmod) and tenomodulin in NIH/3T3 fibroblasts in a wound healing assay. The cell migration was analyzed between days 0 and 4 in both fibroblasts (F) and fibroblasts + MC (F+MC) groups. On the 4th day, cell viability and gene expression were also analyzed after daily MC application. Higher expression of Ctgf and lower expression of Tnc and Fmod, respectively, were observed in the F+MC group in relation to F group (p

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of red Light Emiting Diode (red LED) irradiation on fibroblasts in adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASC) co-culture on the scratch assay. We hypothesized that red LED irradiation could stimulate paracrine secretion of ASC, contributing to the activation of genes and molecules involved in cell migration and tissue repair. ASC were co-cultured with NIH/3T3 fibroblasts through direct contact and subjected to red LED irradiation (1.45 J/cm2/5min6s) after the scratch assay, during 4 days. Four groups were established: fibroblasts (F), fibroblasts + LED (FL), fibroblasts + ASC (FC) and fibroblasts + LED + ASC (FLC). The analyzes were based on Ctgf and Reck expression, quantification of collagen types I and III, tenomodulin, VEGF, TGF-β1, MMP-2 and MMP-9, as well as viability analysis and cell migration. Higher Ctgf expression was observed in FC compared to F. Group FC presented higher amount of tenomodulin and VEGF in relation to the other groups. In the cell migration analysis, a higher number of cells was observed in the scratched area of the FC group on the 4th day. There were no differences between groups considering cell viability, Reck expression, amount of collagen types I and III, MMP-2 and TGF-β1, whereas TGF-β1 was not detected in the FC group and the MMP-9 in none of the groups. Our hypothesis was not supported by the results because the red LED irradiation decreased the healing response of ASC. An inhibitory effect of the LED irradiation associated with ASC co-culture was observed with reduction of the amount of TGF-β1, VEGF and tenomodulin, possibly involved in the reduced cell migration. In turn, the ASC alone seem to have modulated fibroblast behavior by increasing Ctgf, VEGF and tenomodulin, leading to greater cell migration. In conclusion, red LED and ASC therapy can have independent effects on fibroblast wound healing, but the combination of both does not have a synergistic effect. Therefore, future studies with other parameters of red LED associated with ASC should be tested aiming clinical application for tissue repair., Biological sciences; Cell biology; Proteins; Biomedical engineering; Molecular biology; Regenerative medicine; Scratch assay; Ctgf; TGF-β1; Tenomodulin; Repair; Cell migration