title: Effects of a continuous electromagnetic field on wound healing in human airway.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EMF can inhibit wound healing in vitro by inhibiting cell migration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Incheon St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul.
authors.forename: Dong-Hyun
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon.
authors.forename: Hyun Jun
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: School of Electronics and Electrical Engineering, Dankook University, Jukjun, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yoon-Myoung
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Gimm
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon.
authors.forename: Sung Pyo
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Incheon St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul.
authors.forename: Eun-ju
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Incheon St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul.
authors.forename: Eun Young
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000528:radiation effects; D001980:Bronchi / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology; D002455:Cell Division / Q000528:radiation effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000528:radiation effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000473:pathology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D055909:Magnetic Field Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000528:radiation effects*
keywords: Electromagnetic fields; wound healing