Extremely low-frequency EMF facilitate both osteoblast and osteoclast activity through Wnt/β-

Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology · 2024 · Benefit · Low evidence

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BenefitLow evidencePaper 257

Study snapshot

PublicationFrontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology · 2024

Study typeanimal

Reported directionBenefit

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Extremely low-frequency EMF facilitate both osteoblast and osteoclast activity through Wnt/β- catenin signaling in the zebrafish scale Kobayashi-Sun J, Kobayashi I, Kashima M, Hirayama J, Kakikawa M, Yamada S, Suzuki N. Extremely low- frequency electromagnetic fields facilitate both osteoblast and osteoclast activity through Wnt/β- catenin signaling in the zebrafish scale. Front Cell Dev Biol. 2024 Feb 7;12:1340089. doi: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1340089. Abstract Electromagnetic fields (EMFs) have received widespread attention as effective, noninvasive, and safe therapies across a range of clinical applications for bone disorders. However, due to the various frequencies of devices, their effects on tissues/cells are vary, which has been a bottleneck in understanding the effects of EMFs on bone tissue. Here, we developed an in vivo model system using zebrafish scales to investigate the effects of extremely low-frequency EMFs (ELF-EMFs) on fracture healing. Exposure to 10 millitesla (mT) of ELF-EMFs at 60 Hz increased the number of both osteoblasts and osteoclasts in the fractured scale, whereas 3 or 30 mT did not. Gene expression analysis revealed that exposure to 10 mT ELF-EMFs upregulated wnt10b and Wnt target genes in the fractured scale. Moreover, β-catenin expression was enhanced by ELF-EMFs predominantly at the fracture site of the zebrafish scale. Inhibition of Wnt/β-catenin signaling by IWR-1-endo treatment reduced both osteoblasts and osteoclasts in the fractured scale exposed to ELF-EMFs. These results suggest that ELF- EMFs promote both osteoblast and osteoclast activity through activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in fracture healing. Our data provide in vivo evidence that ELF-EMFs generated with a widely used commercial AC power supply have a facilitative effect on fracture healing. Open access paper: frontiersin.org

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AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typeanimal

Effect directionbenefit

PopulationZebrafish (scale fracture model)

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureELF

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

In a zebrafish scale fracture model, exposure to 10 mT ELF-EMF at 60 Hz increased the number of both osteoblasts and osteoclasts in the fractured scale, while 3 or 30 mT did not. Exposure to 10 mT upregulated wnt10b and Wnt target genes and enhanced β-catenin expression at the fracture site; inhibiting Wnt/β-catenin signaling (IWR-1-endo) reduced osteoblasts and osteoclasts under ELF-EMF exposure.

Outcomes measured

Osteoblast number/activity in fractured scale
Osteoclast number/activity in fractured scale
Gene expression (wnt10b; Wnt target genes) in fractured scale
β-catenin expression at fracture site
Effect of Wnt/β-catenin inhibition (IWR-1-endo) on osteoblasts/osteoclasts under ELF-EMF exposure
Fracture healing (facilitative effect; in vivo evidence)

Limitations

Exposure duration not reported in abstract
Sample size not reported in abstract
Animal model (zebrafish scales); generalizability to humans not addressed in abstract
Only specific field strengths tested (3, 10, 30 mT) and one frequency (60 Hz)

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": "commercial AC power supply",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": "Zebrafish (scale fracture model)",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Osteoblast number/activity in fractured scale",
    "Osteoclast number/activity in fractured scale",
    "Gene expression (wnt10b; Wnt target genes) in fractured scale",
    "β-catenin expression at fracture site",
    "Effect of Wnt/β-catenin inhibition (IWR-1-endo) on osteoblasts/osteoclasts under ELF-EMF exposure",
    "Fracture healing (facilitative effect; in vivo evidence)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "In a zebrafish scale fracture model, exposure to 10 mT ELF-EMF at 60 Hz increased the number of both osteoblasts and osteoclasts in the fractured scale, while 3 or 30 mT did not. Exposure to 10 mT upregulated wnt10b and Wnt target genes and enhanced β-catenin expression at the fracture site; inhibiting Wnt/β-catenin signaling (IWR-1-endo) reduced osteoblasts and osteoclasts under ELF-EMF exposure.",
  "effect_direction": "benefit",
  "limitations": [
    "Exposure duration not reported in abstract",
    "Sample size not reported in abstract",
    "Animal model (zebrafish scales); generalizability to humans not addressed in abstract",
    "Only specific field strengths tested (3, 10, 30 mT) and one frequency (60 Hz)"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "extremely low-frequency EMF",
    "ELF-EMF",
    "60 Hz",
    "10 mT",
    "zebrafish",
    "scale",
    "fracture healing",
    "osteoblast",
    "osteoclast",
    "Wnt/β-catenin",
    "β-catenin",
    "wnt10b",
    "IWR-1-endo"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "elf-emf",
      "weight": 0.9,
      "reason": "Study investigates extremely low-frequency EMF exposure at 60 Hz."
    },
    {
      "slug": "bone-healing",
      "weight": 0.85,
      "reason": "Outcomes relate to fracture healing and bone cell activity (osteoblasts/osteoclasts)."
    }
  ]
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1340089
PubMed: Not supplied

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