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Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) Accelerates Cutaneous Wound Healing and Inhibits Pro-inflammatory Cytokines

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ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to evaluate transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and other common treatment methods used in the process of wound healing in terms of the expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. In the study, 24 female and 24 male adult Wistar–Albino rats were divided into five groups: (1) the non-wounded group having no incision wounds, (2) the control group having incision wounds, (3) the TENS (2 Hz, 15 min) group, (4) the physiological saline (PS) group and (5) the povidone iodine (PI) group. In the skin sections, interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were assessed with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunohistochemical methods. In the non-wounded group, the expression of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α signaling molecules was weaker in the whole tissue; however, in the control group, significant inflammatory response occurred, and strong cytokine expression was observed in the dermis, granulation tissue, hair follicles, and sebaceous glands (P < 0.05). In the TENS group, the decrease in TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 immunoreaction in the skin was significant compared to the other forms of treatment (P < 0.05). Distinctive decreases of pro-inflammatory cytokines observed in the dermis in the TENS group suggest that TENS shortened the healing process by inhibating the inflammation phase.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We appreciate the assistance of Celal Bayar of the University Scientific Research Center for provision of financial support for this study. This study was supported by Scientific Research Projects Committee of Celal Bayar University, and No. 2010-31.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

None of the authors declared any conflict of interests with financial and personal relationships with other people or organizations that could inappropriately influence (bias) our work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Vocational Health Service, Celal Bayar University, Manisa, Turkey

    Seren Gülşen Gürgen

  2. Research Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, Dokuz Eylül University, İzmir, Turkey

    Oya Sayın

  3. Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, İzmir University, Üçkuyular, İzmir, Turkey

    Ferihan Çetin

  4. Department of Anatomy, School of Vocational Health Service, Celal Bayar University, Manisa, Turkey

    Ayşe Tuç Yücel

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  1. Seren Gülşen Gürgen
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Correspondence to Seren Gülşen Gürgen.

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Gürgen, S.G., Sayın, O., Çetin, F. et al. Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) Accelerates Cutaneous Wound Healing and Inhibits Pro-inflammatory Cytokines. Inflammation 37, 775–784 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10753-013-9796-7

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