Study type: Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Pulsed electromagnetic fields stimulate osteogenic differentiation and maturation of osteoblasts by upregulating the expression of BMPRII localized at the base of primary cilium med./bio.

By: Xie YF, Shi WG, Zhou J, Gao YH, Li SF, Fang QQ, Wang MG, Ma HP, Wang JF, Xian CJ, Chen KM
Published in: Bone 2016; 93: 22-32
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Aim of study (acc. to author)

The underlying mechanisms of action of osteogenic differentiation of rat osteoblasts induced by exposure to a 50 Hz pulsed magnetic field should be investigated.

Background/further details

In a previous study, the authors showed that 50 Hz pulsed magnetic field exposure could stimulate proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of rat osteoblasts and that the existence of a primary cilium is crucial for this effect (Yan et al. 2015). However, the mechanisms of action of this effect are not clear.
Rat calvarial osteoblasts were isolated from 10 neonatal rats and divided into different groups. For short term effects: exposure to the pulsed magnetic field for 1) 5 min, 2) 15 min, 3) 30 min, 4) 60 min and 5) 120 minutes. Cells without exposure (0 min) were used as the control group. For long-term effects, cells were cultured in osteogenic culture medium and divided into the following groups: exposure to the pulsed magnetic field for 6) 3 days, 7) 6 days and 8) 12 days. For each of groups 6-8, a separate control group was used.
Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) have diverse functions in embryonic development and play crucial roles in osteogenesis. The BMP-Smad1/5/8 signaling pathway is important for osteogenic cell differentiation.
To study the mechanisms of action, cilia formation was prevented in cells via treatment with siRNA (small interfering RNA) to induce a gene knockdown (effect similar to knockout). Knockdown of bone morphogenetic proteins receptor II (BMPRII) was also conducted with the help of siRNA. Moreover, noggin, an antagonist of BMPs, and LDN-193189, an inhibitor of BMPRI kinases, were used.

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure Parameters
Exposure 1: 50 Hz
Modulation type: pulsed
Exposure duration: continuous for 5 minutes
Exposure 2: 50 Hz
Modulation type: pulsed
Exposure duration: continuous for 15 minutes
Exposure 3: 50 Hz
Modulation type: pulsed
Exposure duration: continuous for 30 minutes
Exposure 4: 50 Hz
Modulation type: pulsed
Exposure duration: continuous for 60 minutes
Exposure 5: 50 Hz
Modulation type: pulsed
Exposure duration: continuous for 120 minutes
Exposure 6: 50 Hz
Modulation type: pulsed
Exposure duration: intermittent 60 minutes/day for 3 days
Exposure 7: 50 Hz
Modulation type: pulsed
Exposure duration: intermittent 60 minutes/day for 6 days
Exposure 8: 50 Hz
Modulation type: pulsed
Exposure duration: intermittent 60 minutes/day for 12 days

Exposure 1

Main characteristics
Frequency 50 Hz
Type
Waveform
Exposure duration continuous for 5 minutes
Modulation
Modulation type pulsed
Duty cycle 50 %
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Chamber 60 mm culture dishes
Setup dishes were placed in an area with good uniformity within the coil; temperature was measured and overstepping of 37.5°C was signalized
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
magnetic flux density 0.6 mT - - - -

Exposure 2

Main characteristics
Frequency 50 Hz
Type
Waveform
Exposure duration continuous for 15 minutes
Modulation
Modulation type pulsed
Duty cycle 50 %
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
magnetic flux density 0.6 mT - - - -

Exposure 3

Main characteristics
Frequency 50 Hz
Type
Waveform
Exposure duration continuous for 30 minutes
Modulation
Modulation type pulsed
Duty cycle 50 %
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
magnetic flux density 0.6 mT - - - -

Exposure 4

Main characteristics
Frequency 50 Hz
Type
Waveform
Exposure duration continuous for 60 minutes
Modulation
Modulation type pulsed
Duty cycle 50 %
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
magnetic flux density 0.6 mT - - - -

Exposure 5

Main characteristics
Frequency 50 Hz
Type
Waveform
Exposure duration continuous for 120 minutes
Modulation
Modulation type pulsed
Duty cycle 50 %
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
magnetic flux density 0.6 mT - - - -

Exposure 6

Main characteristics
Frequency 50 Hz
Type
Waveform
Exposure duration intermittent 60 minutes/day for 3 days
Modulation
Modulation type pulsed
Duty cycle 50 %
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
magnetic flux density 0.6 mT - - - -

Exposure 7

Main characteristics
Frequency 50 Hz
Type
Waveform
Exposure duration intermittent 60 minutes/day for 6 days
Modulation
Modulation type pulsed
Duty cycle 50 %
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
magnetic flux density 0.6 mT - - - -

Exposure 8

Main characteristics
Frequency 50 Hz
Type
Waveform
Exposure duration intermittent 60 minutes/day for 12 days
Modulation
Modulation type pulsed
Duty cycle 50 %
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
magnetic flux density 0.6 mT - - - -

Exposed system:

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

Investigated system:
Time of investigation:
  • before exposure
  • during exposure
  • after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

In cells with normal primary cilia formation, the protein expression of BMP2 and phosphorylated Smad1/5/8 was significantly increased in cells after 5 minutes of exposure (group 1) and peaked after 30 minutes of exposure (group 3) compared to the control group, indicating an activation of the BMP-Smad1/5/8 pathway. Furthermore, protein expression of BMP receptors BMPRII and BMPRIB was significantly increased after 15 minutes (group 2) and 120 minutes (group 5) compared to the control group, and receptors were localized at the bases of primary cilia.
Osteogenic differentiation and maturation of cells were significantly increased after 3, 6 and 12 days (groups 6-8) compared to the control groups. These promoting effects were negated by co-exposure with inhibitors LDN-193189 and noggin, confirming the BMP-Smad1/5/8 signal pathway in osteoblast differentiation and maturation.
Elimination of primary cilia via gene knockdown abolished the magnetic field-induced upregulation of BMPRII and its ciliary localization. Knockdown of BMPRII expression had no effects on primary cilia but significantly decreased the promoting effect of the magnetic field on osteoblastic differentiation and maturation.
The authors conclude that exposure to a 50 Hz pulsed magnetic field might stimulate osteogenic differentiation of rat osteoblasts by primary cilium-mediated upregulation of BMPRII expression and subsequently activation of the BMP-Smad1/5/8 signaling pathway.

Study character:

Study funded by

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