Noninvasive electromagnetic fields on keratinocyte growth and migration.

The Journal of surgical research · 2010 · Benefit · Low evidence

← Research stream

BenefitLow evidencePaper 4418

In vitro human keratinocyte cultures exposed to a noninvasive EMF showed accelerated keratinocyte migration and a weaker increase in keratinocyte proliferation. These effects were described as keratinocyte-specific, with no such effects observed in dermal fib…

Study snapshot

PublicationThe Journal of surgical research · 2010

Study typein_vitro

Reported directionBenefit

Evidence ratingLow

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 keratinocyte cultures demonstrated that noninvasive EMFs have a strong effect on accelerating keratinocyte 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 microarray 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.

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 directionbenefit

PopulationHuman skin keratinocyte cultures and dermal fibroblasts (in vitro)

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureNot supplied

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Outcomes measured

Keratinocyte migration (incisional wound model migration assay)
Keratinocyte proliferation
Fibroblast migration/proliferation
Gene expression changes in keratinocytes (cDNA microarray, RT-PCR; CRK7, HOXC8)
Wound re-epithelialization (mechanistic inference)

Limitations

No EMF exposure parameters reported in the abstract (e.g., frequency, intensity, duration, SAR).
In vitro study; clinical wound-healing outcomes were not directly measured in humans.
Sample size and experimental replication details not provided in the abstract.

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "in_vitro",
  "exposure": {
    "band": null,
    "source": "noninvasive EMF device",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": "Human skin keratinocyte cultures and dermal fibroblasts (in vitro)",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Keratinocyte migration (incisional wound model migration assay)",
    "Keratinocyte proliferation",
    "Fibroblast migration/proliferation",
    "Gene expression changes in keratinocytes (cDNA microarray, RT-PCR; CRK7, HOXC8)",
    "Wound re-epithelialization (mechanistic inference)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "In vitro human keratinocyte cultures exposed to a noninvasive EMF showed accelerated keratinocyte migration and a weaker increase in keratinocyte proliferation. These effects were described as keratinocyte-specific, with no such effects observed in dermal fibroblasts. Gene expression analyses reported increased expression of CRK7 and HOXC8 in treated keratinocytes.",
  "effect_direction": "benefit",
  "limitations": [
    "No EMF exposure parameters reported in the abstract (e.g., frequency, intensity, duration, SAR).",
    "In vitro study; clinical wound-healing outcomes were not directly measured in humans.",
    "Sample size and experimental replication details not provided in the abstract."
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "noninvasive electromagnetic field",
    "EMF therapy",
    "keratinocytes",
    "fibroblasts",
    "cell migration",
    "cell proliferation",
    "wound repair",
    "re-epithelialization",
    "cDNA microarray",
    "RT-PCR",
    "CRK7",
    "HOXC8"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": []
}

AI can be wrong. Always verify against the paper.

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: 10.1016/j.jss.2009.02.016
PubMed: 19592020

Read the original paper →

Related papers

← Back to the Research Library