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Wound Healing Enhancement by Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields
Author(s) -
Callaghan M.J.,
Kinnuncan E.R.,
Michaels J.,
Simon B.J.,
Gurtner G.C.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
wound repair and regeneration
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.847
H-Index - 109
eISSN - 1524-475X
pISSN - 1067-1927
DOI - 10.1111/j.1067-1927.2004.0abstractbu.x
Subject(s) - granulation tissue , cd31 , wound healing , umbilical vein , andrology , angiogenesis , medicine , immunohistochemistry , chemistry , surgery , pathology , biochemistry , in vitro
The effects of pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) on soft tissue are not well characterized. This study utilized a diabetic wound model to examine the effects of PEMF effects on soft tissue healing. Methods : Wounds were created on the dorsum of db/db and wild type C57BL6 mice. Mice were exposed to PEMF (4.5 ms pulse/15 hz) for 8 hrs/day for 14 days. Gross closure was assessed with digital analysis of area changes over time. Histological examination assessed granulation and epithelial gap, cell proliferation (BrdU), and endothelial cell density (CD31). Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were incubated in the presence or absence of PEMF for 8 hrs and VEGF/FGF2 was measured in culture supernatants by ELISA. Results : Mice exposed to PEMF had accelerated wound closure at day 7 (wound area as % of original, db/db: 60%(PEMF) vs. 78%(control), C57BL6: 15% vs. 42%, p < 0.05) and day 14 (db/db: 21% vs. 55%, C57BL6: 8% vs. 28%, p < 0.05), with increased granulation and cell proliferation (db/db day 7: 52 ± 8 vs. 31 ± 5 cells/HPF (200x)). Immunohistochemical analysis revealed significantly higher CD31 density in wounds exposed to PEMF at day 7 (vessels/HPF, db/db: 28 ± 4 vs. 17 ± 4, C57BL6: 41 ± 7 vs. 28 ± 6) and day 14 (db/db: 32 ± 6 vs. 21 ± 5, C57BL6: 48 ± 5 vs. 40 ± 5). HUVECs in PEMF exhibited 5‐fold higher levels of FGF2 compared to controls after 30 min (20.50 pg/ml ± 6.75 vs. 4.25 pg/ml ± 0.75), with no change in VEGF through 8 hrs. Conclusions : PEMF accelerates closure time and endothelial cell proliferation in wound healing. Upregulation of FGF2 in HUVECs exposed to PEMF suggests that release of angiogenic growth factors may explain increased vascular density and accelerated wound closure. Clinical uses include treatment for diabetic ulcers and other non‐healing wounds. This work is supported in part by the Alumni Fund, Alumni Association of SUNY Downstate College of Medicine (MJC).