Pulsed Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields as Modulators of Inflammation and Wound Healing in Primary Dermal Fibroblasts of Ulcers

• Published in: Bioengineering (Basel) Vol. 11; no. 4; p. 357
• Main Authors: Costantini, Erica, Aielli, Lisa, Gualdi, Giulio, Baronio, Manuela, Monari, Paola, Amerio, Paolo, Reale, Marcella
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 05.04.2024
• Subjects: Antennas; Antioxidants; Bacterial infections; Biopsy; Cell culture; Cell cycle; Cell proliferation; Cyclooxygenase-2; Cytokines; dermal fibroblasts; Electromagnetic fields; Electromagnetism; Exposure; Fibroblasts; Gene expression; Growth factors; Inflammation; Inflammatory response; Leg; Leg ulcers; Medical equipment; Medical research; Modulators; Patients; Penicillin; Prostaglandin E2; pulsed radiofrequency electromagnetic field; Radiation; Radio frequency; Tumor necrosis factor-TNF; Tumor necrosis factor-α; Ulcers; Wound healing; Italy; St Louis Missouri; United States > US; Germany; dermal fibroblasts; wound healing; pulsed radiofrequency electromagnetic field; inflammation
• ISSN: 2306-5354; 2306-5354
• DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering11040357

Venous leg ulcers are one of the most common nonhealing conditions and represent an important clinical problem. The application of pulsed radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (PRF-EMFs), already applied for pain, inflammation, and new tissue formation, can represent a promising approach for venous leg ulcer amelioration. This study aims to evaluate the effect of PRF-EMF exposure on the inflammatory, antioxidant, cell proliferation, and wound healing characteristics of human primary dermal fibroblasts collected from venous leg ulcer patients. The cells' proliferative and migratory abilities were evaluated by means of a BrdU assay and scratch assay, respectively. The inflammatory response was investigated through TNFα, TGFβ, COX2, IL6, and IL1β gene expression analysis and PGE2 and IL1β production, while the antioxidant activity was tested by measuring GSH, GSSG, tGSH, and GR levels. This study emphasizes the ability of PRF-EMFs to modulate the TGFβ, COX2, IL6, IL1β, and TNFα gene expression in exposed ulcers. Moreover, it confirms the improvement of the proliferative index and wound healing ability presented by PRF-EMFs. In conclusion, exposure to PRF-EMFs can represent a strategy to help tissue repair, regulating mediators involved in the wound healing process.