Study type: Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Pulsed electromagnetic field stimulates cellular proliferation in human intervertebral disc cells med./bio.

By: Lee HM, Kwon UH, Kim H, Kim HJ, Kim B, Park JO, Moon ES, Moon SH
Published in: Yonsei Med J 2010; 51 (6): 954-959
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Aim of study (acc. to author)

To study the mechanism of electromagnetic field effects on cell proliferation of human intervertebral disc cells.

Background/further details

Human intervertebral disc tissue specimens were obtained from eight patients.
Cell cultures were divided into a control group and an exposure group with or without N-monomethyl-L-arginine (inhibitor of nitric oxide) or acetylsalicylic acid (inhibitor of prostaglandin E2) to elucidate the mechanism of action of the electromagnetic field on cell proliferation.

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure Parameters
Exposure 1: 30–60 Hz
Exposure duration: continuous for 72 h

General information

Cells were treated with N(G)-Monomethyl-L-arginine or Acetylsalicylic Acid before exposure to EMF

Exposure 1

Main characteristics
Frequency 30–60 Hz
Type
Waveform
Exposure duration continuous for 72 h
Additional info The article is contradictory in regard to the frequency used for exposure - maybe 30 Hz (as stated in methods), maybe 60 Hz (as stated in the abstract)
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Setup 30 cm high solenoid with a diameter of 12 cm, consisting of a polyethylene cylinder tube wound with copper; cells placed in three-dimensional alginate beads in the center of the solenoid
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
magnetic flux density 1.8 mT - measured - -

Reference articles

  • McLeod KJ et al. (2000): Suppression of a differentiation response in MC-3T3-E1 osteoblast-like cells by sustained, low-level, 30 Hz magnetic-field exposure

Exposed system:

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

Investigated system:
Time of investigation:
  • after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

The MTT assay revealed no cytotoxicity in intervertebral disc cells of the exposed group implying cell proliferation without cytotoxicity. Cell proliferation as measured by ³H-thymidine incorporation significantly increased (53%) in the exposed cell culture compared to control cultures.
There was no difference in newly synthesized proteoglycan between the exposed cells and the control cells. Electromagnetic field exposed cell cultures showed no significant change in the expression of aggrecan and type I, and type II collagen compared to the control cells.
Treatment with N-monomethyl-L-arginine or acetylsalicylic acid of exposed cells demonstrated decreased DNA synthesis compared to control cultures without inhibitor treatment.
The authors conclude that electromagnetic field exposure stimulated DNA synthesis in human intervertebral disc cells while no significant effect on proteoglycan synthesis and chondrogenic phenotype expressions was found. DNA synthesis was partially mediated by nitric oxide and prostaglandin E2. Electromagnetic fields can be utilized to stimulate cell proliferation of intervertebral disc cells, which may provide efficient cell amplification in cell therapy to degenerative disc disease.

Study character:

Study funded by

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