Abstract
Background: Although evidence has shown that very small electrical currents produce a beneficial therapeutic result for wounds, noninvasive electromagnetic field (EMF) therapy has consisted mostly of anecdotal clinical reports, with very few well-controlled laboratory mechanistic studies. In this study, we evaluate the effects and potential mechanisms of a noninvasive EMF device on skin wound repair. Materials and Methods: The effects of noninvasive EMF on keratinocytes and fibroblasts were assessed via proliferation and incisional wound model migration assays. cDNA microarray and RT-PCR were utilized to assess genetic expression changes in keratinocytes after noninvasive EMF treatment. Results: In vitro analyses with human skin kerati-nocyte cultures demonstrated that noninvasive EMFs have a strong effect on accelerating keratino-cyte migration and a relatively weaker effect on promoting keratinocyte proliferation. The positive effects of noninvasive EMFs on cell migration and proliferation seem keratinocyte-specific without such effects seen on dermal fibroblasts. cDNA micro-array and RT-PCR performed revealed increased expression of CRK7 and HOXC8 genes in treated keratinocytes. Conclusions: This study suggests that a noninvasive EMF accelerates wound re-epithelialization through a mechanism of promoting keratinocyte migration and proliferation, possibly due to upregulation of CRK7 and HOXC8 genes.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 299-307 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Journal of Surgical Research |
Volume | 162 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Aug 2010 |
Keywords
- CDNA
- Electromagnetic field
- Fibroblast
- Keratinocyte
- Migration
- Proliferation
- RT-PCR
- Wound healing
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Surgery