Aim: The goal of the study is to develop a model allowing to investigate precisely the effect of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on platelet aggregation and to verify the hypothesis regarding the role of the nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability and platelet activation markers in modulating platelet aggregation.
Methods: A total of 41 healthy volunteers at the age of 21-45 years were investigated. At first, platelet aggregation in response to three agonists (TRAP, ADP, and collagen) was evaluated following previous exposure to different doses of laser radiation (λ = 662 nm) to assess the dose-response effect. Subsequently, plasma levels of platelet activation markers (PF4-platelet factor-4 and sP-selectin) as well as the substrate for nitric oxide synthase, L-arginine, and its competitive inhibitors (ADMA-asymmetric dimethylarginine and SDMA-symmetric dimethylarginine) were measured.
Results: All doses of laser irradiation significantly reduced the aggregation. However, the most pronounced effect was observed for 19.7 J/cm2. No significant differences in the levels of platelet activation markers nor in the nitric-oxide-metabolic-pathway compounds between analyzed groups were noted.
Conclusions: We have demonstrated in the established in vitro experimental model that the LLLT in a reproducible manner decreases the whole blood platelet aggregation regardless of the NO bioavailability or changes in the platelet activation markers.