Phototherapy promotes cell migration in the presence of hydroxyurea.

Phototherapy has been shown to cause an increase in cell proliferation and migration. This study focused on viability (trypan blue), proliferation [sodium 3'-(1-(phenylaminocarbonyl)-3,4-tetrazolium)-bis(4-methoxy-6-nitro)-benzene sulphonic acid hydrate (XTT) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP)] and migration of WS1 cells following irradiation in the presence of hydroxyurea (HU), which is an inhibitor of proliferation. Wounded cells were irradiated on days 1 and 4 with a fluence of 5 J/cm(2) with a helium-neon (He-Ne) laser at 632.8 nm. After a repair time of 24 h, cellular responses were assessed. Wounded irradiated cells without HU showed an increase in cell viability and proliferation, which was confirmed by complete wound closure by day 4. Although wounded irradiated cells treated with 5 mM HU showed incomplete wound closure, these cells showed increased migration compared with that of control cells. This study showed that laser irradiation using an He-Ne laser with a fluence of 5 J/cm(2) stimulates cell viability. The HU results confirmed that laser irradiation promotes cell migration and proliferation.