Static Magnetic Fields Reduce Oxidative Stress to Improve Wound Healing and Alleviate Diabetic Complications

Abstract

Although some studies have shown that some static magnetic fields (SMFs) can promote wound healing in diabetic mice, it is not clear whether the other diabetes complications, such as liver disease and diabetic nephropathy, can also be alleviated. Here, we constructed two simple magnetic plates using neodymium permanent magnets to examine the comprehensive effects of moderate SMFs on genetically obese leptin receptor-deficient db/db diabetic mice. We found that although the blood glucose was not obviously reduced by these two SMF settings, both of the glycated serum protein (GSP) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were significantly decreased (Cohen’s d = 2.57–3.04). Moreover, the wound healing, liver lipid accumulation, and renal defects were all significantly improved by SMF treatment (Cohen’s d = 0.91–2.05). Wound tissue examination showed obvious nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) level decrease (Cohen’s d = 2.49–5.40) and Ki-67 level increase (Cohen’s d = 2.30–3.40), indicating decreased oxidative stress and increased cell proliferation. In vitro cellular studies with fibroblast NIH3T3 cells showed that SMFs could reduce high glucose-induced NRF2 nucleus translocation (Cohen’s d = 0.87–1.15) and cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) elevation (Cohen’s d = 0.92), indicating decreased oxidative stress. Consequently, high glucose-induced impairments in cell vitality, proliferation, and migration were all improved by SMF treatment. Therefore, our results demonstrate that these simple SMF devices could effectively reduce oxidative stress in diabetic mice and may provide a cost-effective physical therapy strategy to alleviate multiple diabetic complications in the future.

Injectable reactive oxygen and nitrogen species-controlling hydrogels for tissue regeneration: current status and future perspectives

“…For example, the diabetic chronic wounds are caused by the excessive ROS accumulation resulted from high levels of advanced glycation in the blood under persistent hyperglycinemia [ 29 ]. The excessive ROS accumulation in the wound can inhibit the function of macrophages and angiogenesis, thus hindering wound tissue regeneration and blood vessel reconstruction [ 30 ]. Moreover, the excessive ROS and RNS can directly or indirectly modify and degrade ECM proteins, leading to the impaired fibroblast and keratinocyte functions.…”

Wound Healing versus Metastasis: Role of Oxidative Stress

“…A precise homeostatic control of oxidative state is essential for normal tissue repair while extreme (low or high) levels of ROS can impair wound healing [ 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 ]. Indeed, several studies indicated that reduced ROS level, by magnetic field or pro-oxidant enzyme deficiency, improved wound healing in a model of diabetic mice [ 34 , 40 ]. Furthermore, it has been well documented that non-healing wounds, due to diabetes, or chronic wounds characteristic of pathologies such as inflammatory bowel diseases, are associated with a higher ROS level [ 32 , 41 , 42 , 43 ].…”

Do Magnetic Fields Have a Place in Treating Vascular Complications in Diabetes?

“…There were also no significant between-group differences for collagen fibril alignment and collagen fiber orientation. A recent study provided strong evidence supporting the role of SMF as a modality that accelerates wound healing in a diabetic mouse model that had experimentally induced 5 mm punch biopsy back wounds [ 20 ]. They pre-treated genetically obese leptin receptor-deficient db/db diabetic mice with seven weeks of continuous SMF exposure of about 15 mT at the wound site and continued treatment for three weeks post-wounding.…”