Influence of microcurrent on the modulation of remodelling genes in a wound healing assay

The literature has shown the beneficial effects of microcurrent (MC) therapy on tissue repair. We investigated if the application of MC at 10 μA/90 s could modulate the expression of remodeling genes transforming growth factor beta (Tgfb) , connective tissue growth factor ( Ctgf ), insulin-like growth factor 1 ( Igf1 ), tenascin C ( Tnc ), Fibronectin ( Fn1 ), Scleraxis ( Scx ), Fibromodulin ( Fmod ) and tenomodulin in NIH/3T3 fibroblasts in a wound healing assay. The cell migration was analyzed between days 0 and 4 in both fibroblasts (F) and fibroblasts + MC (F+MC) groups. On the 4th day, cell viability and gene expression were also analyzed after daily MC application. Higher expression of Ctgf and lower expression of Tnc and Fmod , respectively, were observed in the F+MC group in relation to F group (p < 0.05), and no difference was observed between the groups for the genes Tgfb , Fn1 and Scx . In cell migration, a higher number of cells in the scratch region was observed in group F+MC (p < 0.05) compared to group F on the 4th day, and the cell viability assay showed no difference between the groups. In conclusion, MC therapy at an intensity/time of 10 μA/90 s with 4 daily applications did not affect cell viability, stimulated fibroblasts migration with the involvement of Ctgf , and reduced the Tnc and Fmod expression.