Condition Focus: Osteoarthritis — Cytokine Modulation and Cartilage Restoration
This 2025 narrative review in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences takes a dual perspective on PBM in osteoarthritis, synthesizing both in vivo (animal model) and in vitro (cell culture) evidence to build a comprehensive picture of how light therapy affects the osteoarthritic joint at molecular, cellular, and tissue levels.
The review identifies a consistent cytokine modulation pattern across studies: PBM reduces IL-1β and TNF-α (the primary pro-inflammatory drivers) while increasing IL-10 (a key anti-inflammatory mediator). It also stimulates Collagen II production — the structural protein essential for cartilage integrity — and suppresses bradykinin receptor B1 and B2 expression, which are involved in pain sensitisation.
A particularly interesting finding is the evidence for synergistic benefit when PBM is combined with chondroitin sulfate or glucosamine supplementation. This combination produced greater improvements in cartilage health markers than either intervention alone, suggesting that PBM may enhance the uptake or utilisation of these widely used joint supplements.
For gout, the cytokine profile addressed by PBM in this review — IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-10 — is identical to the inflammatory mediator profile that drives acute gout flares. The bradykinin receptor suppression is also relevant, as bradykinin contributes to the intense pain sensitivity that characterises a gout attack.
G.O.A.T. for Gout Alignment:
The GaAlAs wavelengths reviewed (780–830 nm) overlap with the G.O.A.T.’s 850 nm NIR output. The cytokine modulation pattern — reducing IL-1β and TNF-α while boosting IL-10 — directly addresses the inflammatory mediators that the NLRP3 inflammasome releases during a gout flare. The supplement synergy finding may also be relevant for gout patients already taking joint health supplements.
Link to original research here
Editor’s note: The cytokine suppression pattern described here is confirmed at the protein level in a joint model by Tomazoni et al 2017. The Collagen II restoration data complements the human chondrocyte evidence in Oliveira et al 2025. For the cartilage integrity and chronic pain evidence, see Balbinot et al 2021. The synoviocyte-specific inflammatory pathway data is explored in Ryu et al 2023.
Related Articles
- Current Advances of PBM in Treating Knee Osteoarthritis – 2023
- PBM Ameliorates Inflammatory Parameters in Fibroblast-Like Synoviocytes – Ryu et al 2023
- NIR PBM Stimulates Cartilage Matrix Synthesis in Human Chondrocytes – Oliveira et al 2025
- PBM Restores Cartilage Integrity and Reduces Chronic Pain in OA – Balbinot et al 2021
- Effects of PBM on Inflammatory Response in Experimental OA – Tomazoni et al 2017
Key Takeaways
- PBM consistently reduces IL-1β and TNF-α while increasing IL-10 across OA studies
- Collagen II production stimulated — essential for cartilage structural integrity
- Bradykinin receptor suppression contributes to pain relief mechanism
- Synergistic benefit with glucosamine/chondroitin sulfate supplementation demonstrated
- Cytokine profile addressed is identical to the gout flare inflammatory cascade
Study Overview
| Study Type: | Narrative review (14 articles) |
| Wavelength(s): | GaAlAs 780–830 nm |
| Treatment Protocol: | Varies; energy densities 10–214 J/cm² |
| Sample Size: | Review of in vivo and in vitro studies |
| Primary Outcome: | Cytokine modulation (IL-1β↓, TNF-α↓, IL-10↑), Collagen II restoration, bradykinin suppression |
Full Citation
Effects of photobiomodulation on osteoarthritis from in vivo and in vitro studies: a narrative review. (2025). International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 26(18), 8997. View Publication
