Inflammatory response and extracellular matrix turnover following pulsed dyed laser treatment of vocal fold and vocal fold fibroblasts

Abstract

The 585-nm pulsed dye laser (PDL) is commonly utilized for the treatment of vascular and epithelial vocal fold lesions; however there are anecdotal reports that it may improve scar outcomes, perhaps by altering extracellular matrix (ECM) turnover; in certain patients. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of PDL treatment on a selected group of inflammatory and procollagen/collagenase genes in normal rat vocal folds and vocal fold fibroblast cells. Vocal folds and fibroblasts were treated with 5-50J/cm2 PDL fluence and harvested at several time points. The mRNA expression profiles of TGF-Beta1, COX-2, IL-1Beta, IL-6, MMP-13, Procollagen I and Procollagen III were examined using real time RT-PCR. Our results indicated changes in inflammatory response alongside alterations in procollagen/collagenase expression, suggesting that PDL treatment does alter gene expression of fibroblasts within the focal fold ECM.