Bryan Quidel; Heline Montecinos & Fernando Dias

Summary

Schwann cells (SC) or Schwannocytus; Schwannocyti are glial cells of the peripheral nervous system that play a crucial role in growth, homeostasis, and nerve regeneration. Photobiomodulation (PBM) with Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) has been used both to modulate the behavior of SC and as a therapeutic method for peripheral nerve injuries. This systematic review aimed to analyze the effect of PBM with LLLT on SC and its implications to peripheral nerve regeneration in different study models (in vitro and in vivo). A systematic literature review was conducted in the electronic databases: PUBMED, EMBASE, and WEB OF SCIENCE. The search terms used were: "Schwann Cells", "Cell, Schwann", "Cells, Schwann", "Photobiomodulation", "Low-Level Laser Therapy", "Lasers", "LLLT" and "Low Light Laser Therapy" conducted between March 2024 and April 2024. ARRIVE guidelines were used to analyze the quality of the selected in vivo animal studies. Two in vitro studies used primary SC and one study used commercial SC. Nine in vivo studies included were conducted in rats and one in rabbit. Different traumatic models were used such as crush injury, transection, excision, and neurotmesis. All studies described the parameters of PBM/LLLT utilization; the most frequent were wavelength (nm), power (mW), energy delivery mode, energy density/dose (J/cm2) and frequency of LLLT application in days. Most studies reveal positive effects of PBM/LLLT on the viability, proliferation, expression of biomarkers, and morphology of SC that have been reflected in improving nerve regeneration. The studies that analyzed the effect of PBM/LLLT on SC are mostly studies in animals, which indicates the need for more in vitro studies to understand the possibilities of modulation of these cells. In vivo studies showed high methodological and result quality, revealing in general the PBM/LLLT presented positive effects on SC and in peripheral nerve regeneration. KEY WORDS: Schwann cells; Schwannocytus; Schwannocyti; Photobiomodulation; PBM; Low-Level Laser Therapy; LLLT; Nerve Regeneration; Cellular Modulation.

How to cite this article

QUIDEL, B.; MONTECINOS, H. & DIAS, F. Photobiomodulation using low-level laser on Schwann cells (Schwannocytus – Schwannocyti) with implication on nerve regeneration. A systematic review. Int. J. Morphol., 43(2):651-659, 2025.