Electric Field-Induced Changes in Biomechanical Properties in Human Dermal Fibroblasts and a Human Skin Equivalent

Skin research and technology : official journal of International Society for Bioengineering and the Skin (ISBS) [and] International Society for Digital Imaging of Skin (ISDIS) [and] International Society for Skin Imaging (ISSI) · 2020 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 1516

Study snapshot

PublicationSkin research and technology : official journal of International Society for Bioengineering and the Skin (ISBS) [and] International Society for Digital Imaging of Skin (ISDIS) [and] International Society for Skin Imaging (ISSI) · 2020

Study typein_vitro

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Electric Field-Induced Changes in Biomechanical Properties in Human Dermal Fibroblasts and a Human Skin Equivalent Se Jik Han, Donggerami Moon, Moon Young Park, Sangwoo Kwon, Minjoo Noh, Jihui Jang, Jun Bae Lee , Kyung Sook Kim. Electric Field-Induced Changes in Biomechanical Properties in Human Dermal Fibroblasts and a Human Skin Equivalent. Skin Res Technol. 2020 Jun 28. doi: 10.1111/srt.12894. Abstract Purpose: An electric field (EF) can be used to change the mechanical properties of cells and skin tissues. We demonstrate EF-induced elasticity changes in human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) and a human skin equivalent and identify the underlying principles related to the changes. Methods: HDFs and human skin equivalent were stimulated with electric fields of 1.0 V/cm. Change in cellular elasticity was determined by using atomic force microscopy. Effects of EF on the biomechanical and chemical properties of a human skin equivalent were analyzed. In cells and tissues, the effects of EF on biomarkers of cellular elasticity were investigated at the gene and protein levels. Results: In HDFs, the cellular elasticity was increased and the expression of biomarkers of cellular elasticity was regulated by the EF. Expression of the collagen protein in the human skin equivalent was changed by EF stimulation; however, changes in density and microstructure of the collagen fibrils were not significant. The viscoelasticity of the human skin equivalent increased in response to EF stimulation, but molecular changes were not observed in collagen. Conclusions: Elasticity of cells and human skin equivalent can be regulated by electrical stimulation. Especially, the change in cellular elasticity was dependent on cell age. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Machine Enhanced Logic

AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typein_vitro

Effect directionmixed

PopulationHuman dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) and a human skin equivalent

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureNot supplied

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Human dermal fibroblasts stimulated with an electric field of 1.0 V/cm showed increased cellular elasticity and regulated expression of biomarkers of cellular elasticity. In a human skin equivalent, collagen protein expression changed with electric field stimulation, collagen fibril density/microstructure changes were not significant, and viscoelasticity increased; molecular changes in collagen were not observed. The change in cellular elasticity was reported to be dependent on cell age.

Outcomes measured

Cellular elasticity (atomic force microscopy)
Biomarkers of cellular elasticity (gene and protein expression)
Collagen protein expression in human skin equivalent
Collagen fibril density and microstructure
Viscoelasticity of human skin equivalent

Limitations

No exposure duration reported in abstract
No frequency information reported (electric field described only by field strength)
Sample size not reported in abstract
Study appears limited to in vitro cells and a skin-equivalent model (no human/clinical outcomes described)

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "in_vitro",
  "exposure": {
    "band": null,
    "source": "electric field stimulation",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": "Human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) and a human skin equivalent",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Cellular elasticity (atomic force microscopy)",
    "Biomarkers of cellular elasticity (gene and protein expression)",
    "Collagen protein expression in human skin equivalent",
    "Collagen fibril density and microstructure",
    "Viscoelasticity of human skin equivalent"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Human dermal fibroblasts stimulated with an electric field of 1.0 V/cm showed increased cellular elasticity and regulated expression of biomarkers of cellular elasticity. In a human skin equivalent, collagen protein expression changed with electric field stimulation, collagen fibril density/microstructure changes were not significant, and viscoelasticity increased; molecular changes in collagen were not observed. The change in cellular elasticity was reported to be dependent on cell age.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "No exposure duration reported in abstract",
    "No frequency information reported (electric field described only by field strength)",
    "Sample size not reported in abstract",
    "Study appears limited to in vitro cells and a skin-equivalent model (no human/clinical outcomes described)"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "electric field",
    "electrical stimulation",
    "human dermal fibroblasts",
    "human skin equivalent",
    "elasticity",
    "viscoelasticity",
    "atomic force microscopy",
    "collagen",
    "biomechanical properties",
    "cell age"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": []
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.1111/srt.12894
PubMed: 32594564

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