Comparison of effects of high- and low-frequency electromagnetic fields on proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells

Neuroscience letters · 2021 · Mixed · Low evidence

← Research stream

MixedLow evidencePaper 1154

Study snapshot

PublicationNeuroscience letters · 2021

Study typeanimal

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Comparison of effects of high- and low-frequency electromagnetic fields on proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells Wenfang Bai, Meihui Li, Weicheng Xu, Mingsheng Zhang. Comparison of effects of high- and low-frequency electromagnetic fields on proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells. Neurosci Lett. 2021 Jan 10;741:135463. doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2020.135463. Highlights • Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) has been widely applied to diagnose and treat intractable brain diseases. • Both 50 Hz LF-EMF and HF-EMF can promote the proliferation of NSCs in vitro. • LF-EMF can accelerate NSCs to differentiate into neurons. Abstract To compare the effects of high- (HF-EMF) and low-frequency electromagnetic fields (LF-EMF) on the proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells (NSCs). NSCs were obtained from SD rat hippocampus and cultured in suspension and adherent differentiation media. NSCs were exposed to LF-EMF (5 m T, 50 Hz, 30 min daily), HF-EMF (maximum magnetic induction 2.5 T, 40 % MO, 50 Hz, 10 min daily) and no electromagnetic field. At 3 d, cell viability and quantity of NSCs in suspension were detected by CCK-8 assay and cell counting plate. Immunofluorescence staining and qRT-PCR were performed to detect the percentage of Tuj-1 and GFAP-positive NSCs and the expression of Tuj-1 and GFAP mRNA. The P3 NSCs were positive with Nestin and induced NSCs expressed Tuj-1, GFAP and oligodendrocyte markers (MBP). CCK-8 assay and cell counting showed that the OD value and quantity of LF-EMF group were significantly higher than those in other two groups (both P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the OD value and quantity were significantly higher in the HF-EMF group (P < 0.05). Immunofluorescence staining and qRT-PCR revealed that the percentage of Tuj-1 positive cells and the expression of Tuj-1 mRNA of NSCs exposed to LF-EMF were the highest (both P < 0.05). The proportion of GFAP- positive NSCs and the expression of GFAP mRNA did not significantly differ among three groups (all P> 0.05). Both 50 Hz LF-EMF and HF-EMF can promote the proliferation of NSCs in vitro and LF-EMF can accelerate NSCs to differentiate into neurons. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Machine Enhanced Logic

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 directionmixed

PopulationNeural stem cells (NSCs) obtained from SD rat hippocampus (in vitro)

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureELF · LF-EMF: 30 min daily; HF-EMF: 10 min daily

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Compared with no-field control, both LF-EMF (5 mT, 50 Hz, 30 min daily) and the described HF-EMF condition (maximum magnetic induction 2.5 T, 40% MO, 50 Hz, 10 min daily) showed significantly higher NSC viability/quantity at 3 days. LF-EMF exposure produced the highest Tuj-1 positive percentage and Tuj-1 mRNA expression, while GFAP positivity and GFAP mRNA did not differ significantly among groups.

Outcomes measured

NSC viability (CCK-8 OD value)
NSC quantity (cell counting)
Neuronal differentiation marker Tuj-1 (immunofluorescence % positive; mRNA expression)
Astrocytic marker GFAP (immunofluorescence % positive; mRNA expression)
Oligodendrocyte marker MBP (expression noted)

Limitations

In vitro study using rat-derived NSCs; findings may not translate to in vivo or humans
Sample size not reported in abstract
Exposure description labels one condition as 'HF-EMF' but reports 50 Hz; frequency details for 'HF' condition are unclear from abstract
Short follow-up (3 days)

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": "transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) / magnetic field exposure (in vitro setup)",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "LF-EMF: 30 min daily; HF-EMF: 10 min daily"
  },
  "population": "Neural stem cells (NSCs) obtained from SD rat hippocampus (in vitro)",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "NSC viability (CCK-8 OD value)",
    "NSC quantity (cell counting)",
    "Neuronal differentiation marker Tuj-1 (immunofluorescence % positive; mRNA expression)",
    "Astrocytic marker GFAP (immunofluorescence % positive; mRNA expression)",
    "Oligodendrocyte marker MBP (expression noted)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Compared with no-field control, both LF-EMF (5 mT, 50 Hz, 30 min daily) and the described HF-EMF condition (maximum magnetic induction 2.5 T, 40% MO, 50 Hz, 10 min daily) showed significantly higher NSC viability/quantity at 3 days. LF-EMF exposure produced the highest Tuj-1 positive percentage and Tuj-1 mRNA expression, while GFAP positivity and GFAP mRNA did not differ significantly among groups.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "In vitro study using rat-derived NSCs; findings may not translate to in vivo or humans",
    "Sample size not reported in abstract",
    "Exposure description labels one condition as 'HF-EMF' but reports 50 Hz; frequency details for 'HF' condition are unclear from abstract",
    "Short follow-up (3 days)"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "neural stem cells",
    "NSC proliferation",
    "differentiation",
    "50 Hz",
    "low-frequency electromagnetic field",
    "transcranial magnetic stimulation",
    "Tuj-1",
    "GFAP",
    "in vitro",
    "rat hippocampus"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "elf-emf",
      "weight": 0.9,
      "reason": "Study involves 50 Hz magnetic field exposure and reports effects on neural stem cell proliferation/differentiation."
    }
  ]
}

AI can be wrong. Always verify against the paper.

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: 10.1016/j.neulet.2020.135463
PubMed: 33129846

Read the original paper →

Related papers

← Back to the Research Library