Effects of a continuous electromagnetic field on wound healing in human airway.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a 1.8-GHz continuous electromagnetic field (EMF) on wound healing in a human airway cell-culture system.

STUDY DESIGN

In vitro study using a cell line.

METHODS

Immortalized human bronchial epithelial cells (a BEAS-2B cell line) were exposed to a 1.8-GHz EMF (specific absorption rate = 1.0 W/kg). We evaluated the effect of EMF on the cells using an 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) viability assay, by cell counting, and by using fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis of cell cycle dynamics and apoptosis. Inhibition of migration was tested by a wound-healing assay on scratched cell cultures.

RESULTS

Cell migration in the wound-healing assay was decreased by the EMF treatment compared with controls. The MTT assay and cell counting consistently showed that the EMF used was not cytotoxic and did not inhibit cell proliferation. FACS analysis showed no alterations in the cell-cycle phase distribution or in apoptosis after EMF exposure.

CONCLUSION

EMF can inhibit wound healing in vitro by inhibiting cell migration.