Extremely Low-Frequency Electromagnetic Fields Increase Cytokines in Human Hair Follicles through Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling.

Biomedicines · 2022 · Benefit · Very low evidence

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BenefitVery low evidencePaper 5745

Study snapshot

PublicationBiomedicines · 2022

Study typein_vitro

Reported directionBenefit

Evidence ratingVery low

Abstract

Hair loss is a chronic disorder that affects many people; however, a complete treatment has not yet been developed. Therefore, new therapeutic agents for preventing hair loss must be developed, and electromagnetic field (EMF) therapy has been proven to be a promising medical treatment in various fields, including hair loss treatment. This study evaluated the effect of extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field (ELF-EMF) intensity and exposure time by analyzing the expression of cytokines and anagen-related molecules, which influence hair activation and growth, in hair bulb spheroid (HBS) and hair follicle (HF) organ cultures. ELF-EMFs did not induce toxicity in the HBSs, as verified via the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay. Moreover, an ELF-EMF intensity of 5-20 G promoted the expression of ALP, versican, β-catenin, and several cytokines (VEGF, PDGF, FGF-10, and ET-1) in HBSs. Immunohistochemical staining showed that ELF-EMF at an intensity of 5-20 G upregulated ALP and β-catenin and decreased TUNEL staining in HBS. Moreover, HFs exposed to ELF-EMF for 60 min exhibited an increase in hair length and a 1.5-fold increase in IL-4, ICAM-1, ALP, and versican mRNA expression compared to the control. Immunohistochemical staining indicated that 60 min of ELF-EMF can increase the expression of ALP and β-catenin and decreases TUNEL staining in organ cultures. Collectively, our results demonstrated that ELF-EMF exposure at a 10 G intensity for 60 min promoted hair shaft growth in HFs due to the effect of cytokines and adhesion molecules via the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Therefore, ELF-EMF is a promising treatment for hair loss.

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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

PopulationNot supplied

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureELF · 60 min (also evaluated exposure time; specific other durations not stated)

Evidence strengthVery lowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

ELF-EMF exposure at 5–20 G did not induce toxicity in hair bulb spheroids and increased expression of ALP, versican, β-catenin, and several cytokines (VEGF, PDGF, FGF-10, ET-1), with decreased TUNEL staining. Hair follicles exposed for 60 min showed increased hair length and ~1.5-fold increased IL-4, ICAM-1, ALP, and versican mRNA versus control; 10 G for 60 min was reported to promote hair shaft growth via cytokines/adhesion molecules through the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.

Outcomes measured

Toxicity (LDH assay) in hair bulb spheroids
Expression of ALP, versican, β-catenin in hair bulb spheroids and hair follicles
Cytokine expression (VEGF, PDGF, FGF-10, ET-1) in hair bulb spheroids
mRNA expression changes (IL-4, ICAM-1, ALP, versican) in hair follicles
Hair shaft length/growth in hair follicle organ culture
Apoptosis marker staining (TUNEL)
Wnt/β-catenin signaling involvement (β-catenin upregulation)

Limitations

In vitro/ex vivo model (hair bulb spheroid and hair follicle organ cultures), not a clinical study
ELF-EMF frequency not reported in abstract
Sample size and detailed exposure protocol (e.g., number of replicates, full time-course) not reported in abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "in_vitro",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "60 min (also evaluated exposure time; specific other durations not stated)"
  },
  "population": null,
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Toxicity (LDH assay) in hair bulb spheroids",
    "Expression of ALP, versican, β-catenin in hair bulb spheroids and hair follicles",
    "Cytokine expression (VEGF, PDGF, FGF-10, ET-1) in hair bulb spheroids",
    "mRNA expression changes (IL-4, ICAM-1, ALP, versican) in hair follicles",
    "Hair shaft length/growth in hair follicle organ culture",
    "Apoptosis marker staining (TUNEL)",
    "Wnt/β-catenin signaling involvement (β-catenin upregulation)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "ELF-EMF exposure at 5–20 G did not induce toxicity in hair bulb spheroids and increased expression of ALP, versican, β-catenin, and several cytokines (VEGF, PDGF, FGF-10, ET-1), with decreased TUNEL staining. Hair follicles exposed for 60 min showed increased hair length and ~1.5-fold increased IL-4, ICAM-1, ALP, and versican mRNA versus control; 10 G for 60 min was reported to promote hair shaft growth via cytokines/adhesion molecules through the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.",
  "effect_direction": "benefit",
  "limitations": [
    "In vitro/ex vivo model (hair bulb spheroid and hair follicle organ cultures), not a clinical study",
    "ELF-EMF frequency not reported in abstract",
    "Sample size and detailed exposure protocol (e.g., number of replicates, full time-course) not reported in abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "very_low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "ELF-EMF",
    "extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field",
    "hair follicle",
    "hair bulb spheroid",
    "hair growth",
    "cytokines",
    "VEGF",
    "PDGF",
    "FGF-10",
    "ET-1",
    "IL-4",
    "ICAM-1",
    "ALP",
    "versican",
    "β-catenin",
    "Wnt/β-catenin",
    "TUNEL",
    "LDH assay"
  ],
  "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: 10.3390/biomedicines10040924
PubMed: 35453674

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