Effect of Electromagnetic Field on Proliferation and Migration of Fibroblasts and Keratinocytes: Implications in Wound Healing and Regeneration.

Journal of biotechnology and biomedicine · 2024 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 5822

Study snapshot

PublicationJournal of biotechnology and biomedicine · 2024

Study typereview

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Proliferation and migration of fibroblasts, keratinocytes, and endothelial cells are key events in the physiological process of wound healing. This process includes different but overlapping stages: hemostasis, inflammatory phase, the proliferative phase, and the remodeling phase. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is defined as a mechanical insult to the brain from external mechanical force (primary injury), usually followed by the secondary injury including edema, inflammation, excitotoxicity, oxidative stress, or mitochondrial dysfunction. The process of tissue repair following TBI is based on the neuronal-glial interactions, where phagocytosis by microglia plays a crucial role. Low-frequency electromagnetic field (LF-EMF) has been shown to enhance tissue repair after TBI, however, there are limited studies investigating the effects of LF-EMF on the proliferation and migration of keratinocytes, fibroblasts, VSMCs, and endothelial cells in the context of wound healing and on neuronal cells and microglia in relation to healing after TBI. Better understanding of the effects of LF-EMF on the proliferation, migration, and differentiation of these cells is important to enhance tissue healing after injury. This review article comprehensively discussed the effect of EMF/LF-EMF on these cells. Results published by different authors are hardly comparable due to different methodological approach and experimental settings. EMF promotes migration and proliferation of fibroblasts, keratinocytes and endothelial cells (EC), and thus could improve wound healing. The pilot study preformed on a large animal model of TBI suggests anti-inflammatory effects of EMF stimulation following TBI. Therefore, EMF is recognized as a potential therapeutic option to accelerate the wound healing and improve cellular recovery and function after TBI. Nonetheless, future studies are needed to define the optimal parameters of EMF stimulation in terms of frequency or duration of exposure.

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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 typereview

Effect directionmixed

PopulationNot supplied

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureLF

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

This review reports that EMF/LF-EMF has been shown to promote migration and proliferation of fibroblasts, keratinocytes, and endothelial cells, suggesting potential improvement in wound healing. It also notes that a pilot large-animal TBI study suggests anti-inflammatory effects of EMF stimulation following TBI, while emphasizing that results across studies are difficult to compare due to differing methods and exposure settings.

Outcomes measured

Cell proliferation (fibroblasts, keratinocytes, endothelial cells, VSMCs)
Cell migration (fibroblasts, keratinocytes, endothelial cells, VSMCs)
Wound healing / tissue repair
Post-traumatic brain injury (TBI) inflammation / anti-inflammatory effects
Neuronal cell and microglia responses related to healing after TBI

Limitations

Results across studies are described as hardly comparable due to different methodological approaches and experimental settings.
Limited studies are available on LF-EMF effects on keratinocytes, fibroblasts, VSMCs, and endothelial cells in wound healing, and on neuronal cells and microglia in relation to healing after TBI.
Optimal EMF stimulation parameters (e.g., frequency, duration) are not defined; future studies are needed.

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "review",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "LF",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": null,
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Cell proliferation (fibroblasts, keratinocytes, endothelial cells, VSMCs)",
    "Cell migration (fibroblasts, keratinocytes, endothelial cells, VSMCs)",
    "Wound healing / tissue repair",
    "Post-traumatic brain injury (TBI) inflammation / anti-inflammatory effects",
    "Neuronal cell and microglia responses related to healing after TBI"
  ],
  "main_findings": "This review reports that EMF/LF-EMF has been shown to promote migration and proliferation of fibroblasts, keratinocytes, and endothelial cells, suggesting potential improvement in wound healing. It also notes that a pilot large-animal TBI study suggests anti-inflammatory effects of EMF stimulation following TBI, while emphasizing that results across studies are difficult to compare due to differing methods and exposure settings.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Results across studies are described as hardly comparable due to different methodological approaches and experimental settings.",
    "Limited studies are available on LF-EMF effects on keratinocytes, fibroblasts, VSMCs, and endothelial cells in wound healing, and on neuronal cells and microglia in relation to healing after TBI.",
    "Optimal EMF stimulation parameters (e.g., frequency, duration) are not defined; future studies are needed."
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "low-frequency electromagnetic field",
    "LF-EMF",
    "electromagnetic field",
    "EMF",
    "wound healing",
    "regeneration",
    "fibroblasts",
    "keratinocytes",
    "endothelial cells",
    "VSMCs",
    "migration",
    "proliferation",
    "traumatic brain injury",
    "microglia",
    "inflammation"
  ],
  "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: 10.26502/jbb.2642-91280162
PubMed: 39364330

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