Shockwave Therapy Improves Diabetic Wound Healing by Altering Key Proteins
Title of the study: Serum Proteomic Analysis of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy–Enhanced Diabetic Wound Healing in a Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetes Model
Authors: Ming-Yu Yang, Yuan-Cheng Chiang, Yu-Ting Huang, Chien-Chang Chen, Feng-Sheng Wang, Ching-Jen Wang, Yur-Ren Kuo
This study looked at how shockwave therapy affects the healing of diabetic wounds, focusing on changes in proteins within the body. Researchers used a diabetic rat model with skin wounds to compare the effects of shockwave therapy against no treatment. They analyzed the proteins in the test subjects’ blood plasma to see if there were any changes after therapy.
Results showed that the test subjects treated with shockwave therapy had higher levels of a protein called haptoglobin, which helps with tissue repair, and lower levels of a protein known as vitamin D-binding protein, which is linked to delayed healing. These changes were observed both in blood samples and in the skin around the wounds. The researchers suggest that haptoglobin’s increase and the decrease of vitamin D-binding protein may play a key role in speeding up wound healing in diabetic conditions.
The findings offer insight into how shockwave therapy might work at the molecular level, showing a systemic effect on protein regulation. By changing the levels of certain proteins, shockwave therapy appears to promote better healing in diabetic wounds. This study provides a clearer understanding of how this treatment could benefit diabetic patients with chronic wounds, although further research is needed to fully understand the underlying mechanisms.