EFFECT OF PULSED MAGNETIC-FIELDS ON HUMAN UMBILICAL ENDOTHELIAL VEIN CELLS

The long-term goal of this program was to examine the efficacy of weak electromagnetic fields as an adjunct therapy to facilitate wound repa ir. The experiments reported here were directed to the question of whe ther pulsed magnetic fields (PMFs) could facilitate endothelial cell m igration following induction of a wound. These studies were based on a report that weak PMFs facilitated cell migration in a wounded conflue nt monolayer culture of human umbilical vein cells. Experiments report ed in this paper were an attempt to reproduce and extend these observa tions. Our data support the original observations. Further, we examine d several hypotheses in an attempt to clarify the mechanism of interac tion between the applied electromagnetic fields and cells. The data do not support the hypothesis that PMFs are acting in a manner analogous to endothelial cell growth factor, a normal component of the growth m edium, or that PMFs applied at the time of cell transfer enhance DNA r eplication. We have found that PMFs are more effective in accelerating migration if they induce an electric field that is perpendicular rath er than parallel to the sides of the wound.