Pulsed electromagnetic fields modulate energy metabolism during wound healing process: an in vitro model study

Area of Science:

• Cell Biology
• Biophysics
• Metabolic Engineering

Background:

• Pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) therapy is explored for wound healing.
• The impact of PEMFs on wound healing's energy metabolism is understudied.
• This research investigates PEMFs' role in wound healing energy metabolism.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effect of PEMFs on fibroblast energy metabolism.
• To understand the metabolic reprogramming induced by PEMFs in wound healing.
• To correlate metabolic changes with enhanced wound healing in vitro.

Main Methods:

• In vitro scratch-wound and cell viability assays.
• Seahorse assay for energy metabolism analysis.
• Holo-tomographic microscopy, mitochondrial function, ROS, and pH assays.

Main Results:

• Specific PEMF parameters (4mT, 80 Hz) enhanced L929 cell migration and viability.
• PEMF-exposed cells exhibited increased glycolysis for energy production.
• PEMFs promoted intracellular acidification, maintained low ROS, and increased vesicular transport.

Conclusions:

• PEMFs induce metabolic reprogramming in fibroblasts, shifting from mitochondrial respiration to glycolysis.
• This metabolic shift is associated with increased vesicular transport.
• These findings offer new insights into PEMFs' mechanism in promoting in vitro wound healing.