Effects of shock wave on proliferation and migration of HaCat cells in chronic diabetic wound cell model

  Background  Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) is an effective and noninvasive method for improving the healing of chronic wounds. More researches on mechanisms of ESWT are needed.

  Objective  To investigate the effect of shock wave (SW) with different doses on the proliferation and migration of HaCat cells in chronic diabetic wound (CDW) cell model, and reveal the mechanism of extracorporeal shock wave therapy in promoting the healing of chronic diabetic wounds at the cellular level.

  Methods  HaCat cells were divided into control group, CDW group, SW1 group (0.05 mJ/mm², 500 pulses), SW2 group (0.10 mJ/mm², 500 pulses), and SW3 group (0.10 mJ/mm², 1000 pulses). The CDW cell model was established by high-glucose and hypoxia incubation conditions. The morphological changes of HaCat cells were observed using an inverted microscope, the proliferation ability of HaCat cells was quantitatively detected by CCK-8, and the migration ability of HaCat cell was evaluated by scratch assay. The effects of shock waves with different energy flux and pulse output on the proliferation and migration of HaCat in the microenvironment of chronic diabetic wounds were observed.

  Results  There were no obvious morphological changes of HaCat cells in the SW groups when compared to the control group. CCK-8 test showed that the proliferation activity of HaCat cells had a trend of "first increasing, then decreasing". The OD₄₅₀ increased over time (day6 > day4 > day8 > day2 > day1), with significant difference between different timepoints (all P＜0.01). The effects of different interventions on the proliferation activity of HaCat cells in day6 were as follows: SW2 group＞SW1 group＞SW3 group＞control group > CDW group, with statistically significant differences between each group (all P＜0.05). Scratch assay results showed that the scratch healing rates of HaCat cells in different groups increased by time. The healing rates in different groups were as follows: SW2 group＞SW1 group＞SW3 group＞control group > CDW group, and the differences between groups were statistically significant (all P＜0.05).

  Conclusion  In vitro, shock wave can promote the proliferation and migration abilities of HaCat cells in chronic diabetic wound cell model. The effect of shock wave (0.10 mJ/mm², 500 pules) is more obvious.