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

Yonsei medical journal · 2010 · Benefit · Low evidence

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BenefitLow evidencePaper 4356

EMF exposure at 60 Hz and 1.8 millitesla stimulated DNA synthesis and cellular proliferation in human intervertebral disc cells without cytotoxicity or changes in proteoglycan synthesis and chondrogenic phenotype expression. The proliferative effect was parti…

Study snapshot

PublicationYonsei medical journal · 2010

Study typein_vitro

Reported directionBenefit

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to investigate the mechanism of cellular proliferation of electromagnetic field (EMF) on human intervertebral disc (IVD) cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Human IVD cells were cultured three-dimensionally in alginate beads. EMF was exposed to IVD cells with 650 Ω, 1.8 millitesla magnetic flux density, 60 Hz sinusoidal wave. Cultures were divided into a control and EMF group. Cytotoxicity, DNA synthesis and proteoglycan synthesis were measured by MTT assay, [(3)H]-thymidine, and [(35)S]-sulfate incorporation. To detect phenotypical expression, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reactions (RT-PCR) were performed for aggrecan, collagen type I, and type II mRNA expression. To assess action mechanism of EMF, IVD cells were exposed to EMF with N(G)-Monomethyl-L-arginine (NMMA) and acetylsalicylic acid (ASA). RESULTS: There was no cytotoxicity in IVD cells with the EMF group in MTT assay. Cellular proliferation was observed in the EMF group (p < 0.05). There was no difference in newly synthesized proteoglycan normalized by DNA synthesis between the EMF group and the control. Cultures with EMF showed no significant change in the expression of aggrecan, type I, and type II collagen mRNA compared to the control group. Cultures with NMMA (blocker of nitric oxide) or ASA (blocker of prostaglandin E2) exposed to EMF demonstrated decreased DNA synthesis compared to control cultures without NMMA or ASA (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: EMF stimulated DNA synthesis in human IVD cells while no significant effect on proteoglycan synthesis and chondrogenic phenotype expressions. DNA synthesis was partially mediated by nitric oxide and prostaglandin E2. EMF can be utilized to stimulate proliferation of IVD cells, which may provide efficient cell amplification in cell therapy to degenerative disc disease.

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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 typein_vitro

Effect directionbenefit

Populationhuman intervertebral disc cells

Sample sizeNot supplied

Exposure0.06 MHz

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 60% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Outcomes measured

cellular proliferation
cytotoxicity
DNA synthesis
proteoglycan synthesis
aggrecan mRNA expression
collagen type I mRNA expression
collagen type II mRNA expression

Limitations

in vitro study, limiting direct applicability to in vivo or clinical settings
no information on long-term effects or functional outcomes
specific EMF parameters may not generalize to other exposures

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "in_vitro",
  "exposure": {
    "band": null,
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": 0.06,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": "human intervertebral disc cells",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "cellular proliferation",
    "cytotoxicity",
    "DNA synthesis",
    "proteoglycan synthesis",
    "aggrecan mRNA expression",
    "collagen type I mRNA expression",
    "collagen type II mRNA expression"
  ],
  "main_findings": "EMF exposure at 60 Hz and 1.8 millitesla stimulated DNA synthesis and cellular proliferation in human intervertebral disc cells without cytotoxicity or changes in proteoglycan synthesis and chondrogenic phenotype expression. The proliferative effect was partially mediated by nitric oxide and prostaglandin E2 pathways.",
  "effect_direction": "benefit",
  "limitations": [
    "in vitro study, limiting direct applicability to in vivo or clinical settings",
    "no information on long-term effects or functional outcomes",
    "specific EMF parameters may not generalize to other exposures"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.6,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "pulsed electromagnetic field",
    "human intervertebral disc cells",
    "cell proliferation",
    "DNA synthesis",
    "nitric oxide",
    "prostaglandin E2",
    "in vitro"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": []
}

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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: 10.3349/ymj.2010.51.6.954
PubMed: 20879066

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