Direct Current Electrical Stimulation Shifts THP-1-Derived Macrophage Polarization towards Pro-Regenerative M2...

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Immunology
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Macrophage polarization towards the M2 phenotype is crucial for tissue repair and regeneration.
• Previous in vivo studies indicated direct current electrical stimulation (DC EStim) promotes M2 macrophage populations during healing.
• This suggests DC EStim may actively regulate macrophage polarization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the hypothesis that DC EStim induces macrophage polarization towards an M2 phenotype.
• To determine the effects of DC EStim on macrophage polarization markers and cytokine secretion.

Main Methods:

• THP-1 derived M0, M1, and M2 macrophages were treated with 100 mV/mm DC EStim for 1 hour daily over three days.
• Macrophage polarization was assessed via gene expression, surface marker analysis, and cytokine secretion profiling.

Main Results:

• DC EStim upregulated M2 marker genes (IL10, CD163, PPARG) in M0 macrophages.
• In M1 macrophages, DC EStim increased M2 markers (IL10, TGM2, CD206) and decreased the M1 marker CD86 at both gene and protein levels.
• EStim reduced pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion (IL-1β, IL-6) from M1 macrophages.
• M2 macrophages showed limited responsiveness to the applied DC EStim.

Conclusions:

• DC EStim demonstrates a phenotype-dependent pro-M2 effect on macrophages.
• The findings support DC EStim as a potential therapeutic strategy to enhance tissue regeneration by modulating macrophage polarization.