Study type: Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Human Gingival Fibroblasts Exposed to Extremely Low-Frequency Electromagnetic Fields: In Vitro Model of Wound-Healing Improvement med./bio.

Published in: Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20 (9)

Aim of study (acc. to author)

The effects of exposure to a 50 Hz sinusoidal or a pulsed magnetic field on oral wound healing should be investigated in an in vitro model with human gingival fibroblasts.

Background/further details

Cells were divided into the following groups: 1) exposure to the sinusoidal 50 Hz magnetic field, 2) exposure to the pulsed magnetic field, 3) sham exposure.
To examine whether cell proliferation and/or migration is modulated by the exposure during wound healing, cells were tested with and without mitomycin C, a DNA crosslinker and inhibitor of cell proliferation.

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure Parameters
Exposure 1: 50 Hz
Exposure duration: 6 and 18 hours
Exposure 2: 12 Hz
Modulation type: pulsed
Exposure duration: 6 and 18 hours

Exposure 1

Main characteristics
Frequency 50 Hz
Type
Waveform
Exposure duration 6 and 18 hours
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Chamber cell incubator with 5% CO2 at 37°C ± 0.3°C
Setup 160-turn solenoid (22 cm length, 6 cm radius, 1.25 x 10-5 cm copper wire diameter) was placed in incubator; cells were placed in the center
Sham exposure A sham exposure was conducted.
Additional info for validation, cells were also placed in another cell incubator without an EMF, with the same conditions as the sham exposed cells; no differences were detected with respect to the sham exposed cells
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
magnetic flux density 1 mT effective value measured - -

Exposure 2

Main characteristics
Frequency 12 Hz
Type
Waveform
Exposure duration 6 and 18 hours
Modulation
Modulation type pulsed
Pulse width 1.3 ms
Repetition frequency 12 Hz
Pulse type biphasic
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
magnetic flux density 1 mT effective value measured - -

Exposed system:

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

Investigated system:
Time of investigation:
  • after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

Exposure to the sinusoidal magnetic field (group 1) significantly increased cell proliferation and migration compared to the sham exposure. The expression of all examined genes was significantly different in the exposure groups (groups 1 and 2) compared to the sham exposure group: After 6 hours of exposure, increased gene expressions of IL-6, TGF-β and iNOS indicated a proliferative phase in wound repair. After 18 hours of exposure, increased expression rates of MMP-2, MCP-1 and HO-1 were interpreted as an acceleration of the wound-healing process.
The authors conclude that exposure to a 50 Hz sinusoidal or a pulsed magnetic field might be a potential therapeutic tool in wound healing.

Study character:

Study funded by

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