Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Effects of a low-intensity electromagnetic field on fibroblast migration and proliferation med./bio.

By: Sunkari VG, Aranovitch B, Portwood N, Nikoshkov A

Published in: Electromagn Biol Med 2011; 30 (2): 80-85

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To test if an extremely weak 1 GHz electromagnetic field, known to be in resonance with clusters of water molecules, has biological effects on human fibroblasts.

Background/further details

Remark of EMF-Portal: Not clear if 20 min exposure duration was used for every experiment (cf. full article).

Endpoint

fibroblast cell proliferation, cell migration and gene expression

Exposure

- RF
- therapeutic/medical device

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 1 GHz Exposure duration: continuous for 20 min	power density: 5 nW/cm² (in the main exposure area (circular region of 10 cm))

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	1 GHz
Type	electromagnetic field
Exposure duration	continuous for 20 min

Exposure setup

Exposure source	therapeutical device Aquaton-2 (conical antenna, 10 cm in diameter and height)
Distance between exposed object and exposure source	10 cm
Setup	circular exposure area with a diameter of 20 cm; in the remainder of the exposed corona power flux density decreased
Sham exposure	A sham exposure was conducted.

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
power density	5 nW/cm²	-	measured	-	in the main exposure area (circular region of 10 cm)

Exposed system:

intact cell/cell culture
human dermal fibroblasts

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

molecular biosynthesis: gene expression of human fibroblast growth factor 1 (hFGF1) and human vascular endothelial growth factor (hVEGF); quantitative RT-PCR
cell function: cell migragtion (immediately and after 9 h; microscopy with a digital camera)
cell viability/cell division/proliferation: cell proliferation (DNA replication; ³H thymidine incorporation; scintillation counting)

Investigated system:

DNA/RNA
intact cell/cell culture

Time of investigation:

before exposure
after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

The data showed that in an in vitro model of wound healing, this electromagnetic field can activate fibroblast migration and cell proliferation. Activation of the gene expression of human fibroblast growth factor 1after exposure showed that molecular wound healing pathways are activated in response to this water-resonant electromagnetic field.

Study character:

medical/biological study
experimental study
full/main study

Study funded by

not stated/no funding

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