Effect of Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 and Low-Level Laser Therapy on the Adhesion and Proliferation of Periodontal Ligament Stem Cells

Abstract

Introduction: The adhesion ability of mesenchymal stem cells can significantly affect their viability and is considered a prerequisite for cell therapy. The current study sought to evaluate the effect of fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) and low-level laser therapy (LLLT), either individually or in conjunction, on the adhesion and proliferation of periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) when applied on the first day of cell seeding. Methods: The experimental groups of this study comprised a control group and different combinations of adjunctive FGF2 (50 ng/mL) and LLLT with an 808 nm diode laser in one (LLLT-1) or two sessions (LLLT-2) of irradiation. The proliferation and adhesion of cells were evaluated by using the methylthiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay and 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining. All experiments were done in triplicates on the first, third, and fifth days after cell seeding. Two-way ANOVA and post hoc Tukey tests were used to analyze the data of the MTT assay. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: One-day post-culture, only significant differences were found between the control group and the FGF2 (P=0.04) and FGF2+LLLT-2 application (P=0.04) groups. After three days post-cell culture, only a significantly higher proliferation rate was found in the control group than in the FGF2 group (P=0.01). After five days, the control group and LLLT-2 groups showed significantly higher amounts of proliferation compared to the other groups (P<0.05). DAPI staining qualitatively confirmed the results of the MTT assay. Conclusion: The LLLT can be applied to PDLSCs on the day of seeding without causing a notable decrease in their viability and adhesion. Conversely, the administration of FGF2 should be restricted on the seeding day and postponed to subsequent days as it may have adverse effects on their adhesion and proliferation.