Stimulation of col2a1 Gene Expression with Low-Power Laser Radiation as a Means to Induce Cartilage Formation

Elevated expression of the col2a1 gene responsible for synthesis of type II collagen, a major extracellular matrix protein of hyaline cartilage, was observed in multipotent stem cells of rat bone marrow exposed to low-power laser radiation with a wavelength of 0.63 μm and power of 1.7 mW. The result suggests that this procedure may be employed in treatment of diseases associated with damage to the surface of articular cartilage.