6,486 Studies Reviewed. 85.2% of Original Studies Found Biological Effects. The Evidence is Clear.
Shield Your Body
Immune System

Modulation of Macrophage Activity by Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields in the Context of Fracture Healing Bioengineering

Bioeffects Seen

Authors not listed · 2021

Share:

Field A promoted pro-inflammatory macrophage responses while field B promoted anti-inflammatory and pro-healing responses that enhanced stem cell migration and extracellular matrix gene expression.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers screened 22 ELF-PEMFs and identified two fields, A and B, with similar fundamental frequencies but different pulse patterns that diversely affected macrophage function. Macrophages exposed to field A showed pro-inflammatory markers such as increased phospho-Stat1, CD86, ROS, and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Macrophages exposed to field B showed anti-inflammatory and pro-healing markers including increased Arginase I, anti-inflammatory cytokines, and growth factors. Conditioned medium from field B-exposed macrophages enhanced stem cell migration more strongly than field A and stimulated extracellular matrix gene expression in stem cells.

Why This Matters

The study aimed to find ELF-PEMFs that could modulate macrophage activity to indirectly promote mesenchymal stem/stromal cell function. The researchers noted that macrophages are present in all healing phases and, due to their plasticity and long lifespan, are good targets for modulation. The authors concluded that specific ELF-PEMFs may affect immune cell function and that knowing the conditions and mechanisms has potential as an adjuvant treatment for fracture healing.

Exposure Information

A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 51.8-52.3 Hz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 51.8-52.3 HzCell phones~1 GHzWiFi2.4 GHz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.

Cite This Study
Unknown (2021). Modulation of Macrophage Activity by Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields in the Context of Fracture Healing Bioengineering.
Show BibTeX
@article{modulation_of_macrophage_activity_by_pulsed_electromagnetic_fields_in_the_context_of_fracture_healing_bioengineering_ce3987,
  author = {Unknown},
  title = {Modulation of Macrophage Activity by Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields in the Context of Fracture Healing Bioengineering},
  year = {2021},
  doi = {10.3390/bioengineering8110167},
  
}
DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering8110167PubMed: 34821733

Quick Questions About This Study

The aim was to identify specific ELF-PEMFs that could modulate macrophage activity to indirectly promote mesenchymal stem/stromal cell function.
Field A induced pro-inflammatory responses including increased phospho-Stat1, CD86, ROS, and pro-inflammatory cytokines, while field B induced anti-inflammatory and pro-healing responses including increased Arginase I, anti-inflammatory cytokines, and growth factors.
Conditioned medium from macrophages exposed to both fields favored migration of SCP-1 cells, but the effect was stronger for field B.
Conditioned medium from field B-exposed macrophages stimulated expression of extracellular matrix genes COL1A1, FN1, and BGN in SCP-1 cells, while field A did not.
The authors suggested that knowing specific ELF-PEMF conditions and mechanisms has potential as an adjuvant treatment to modulate immune responses during fracture healing.