Effects of low-intensity electromagnetic fields on the proliferation and differentiation of cultured mouse bone marrow stromal cells.

Physical therapy · 2012 · Benefit · Low evidence

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BenefitLow evidencePaper 4529

Study snapshot

PublicationPhysical therapy · 2012

Study typeanimal

Reported directionBenefit

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Electromagnetic fields (EMFs) used in stem-cell tissue engineering can help elucidate their biological principles. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of low-intensity EMFs on cell proliferation, differentiation, and cycle in mouse bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) and the in vivo effects of EMFs on BMSC. METHODS: Harvested BMSCs were cultured for 3 generations and divided into 4 groups. The methylthiotetrazole (MTT) assay was used to evaluate cell proliferation, and alkaline phosphatase activity was measured via a colorimetric assay on the 3rd, 7th, and 10th days. Changes in cell cycle also were analyzed on the 7th day, and bone nodule formation was analyzed on the 12th day. Additionally, the expression of the collagen I gene was examined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) on the 10th day. The BMSCs of the irradiated group and the control group were transplanted into cortical bone of different mice femurs separately, with poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) serving as a scaffold. After 4 and 8 weeks, bone the bone specimens of mice were sliced and stained by hematoxylin and eosin separately. RESULTS: The results showed that EMFs (0.5 mT, 50 Hz) accelerated cellular proliferation, enhanced cellular differentiation, and increased the percentage of cells in the G(2)/M+S (postsynthetic gap 2 period/mitotic phase + S phase) of the stimulation. The EMF-exposed groups had significantly higher collagen I messenger RNA levels than the control group. The EMF + osteogenic medium-treated group readily formed bone nodules. Hematoxylin and eosin staining showed a clear flaking of bone tissue in the irradiated group. CONCLUSION: Irradiation of BMSCs with low-intensity EMFs (0.5 mT, 50 Hz) increased cell proliferation and induced cell differentiation. The results of this study did not establish a stricter animal model for studying osteogenesis, and only short-term results were investigated. Further study of the mechanism of EMF is needed.

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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

PopulationCultured mouse bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) and mice receiving BMSC transplants into femur cortical bone with PLGA scaffold

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureELF · 0.05 MHz

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Exposure to low-intensity EMFs (0.5 mT, 50 Hz) was reported to accelerate BMSC proliferation, enhance differentiation (including increased alkaline phosphatase activity), increase the G2/M+S cell-cycle fraction, and increase collagen I mRNA versus control. The EMF plus osteogenic medium group formed bone nodules more readily, and H&E staining showed clear flaking of bone tissue in the irradiated group after transplantation.

Outcomes measured

Cell proliferation (MTT assay)
Alkaline phosphatase activity (differentiation marker)
Cell cycle distribution (G2/M+S fraction)
Bone nodule formation
Collagen I gene expression (mRNA by RT-PCR)
Histology of bone tissue after transplantation (H&E staining at 4 and 8 weeks)

Limitations

Exposure duration not specified in abstract
Sample size not reported in abstract
Authors note only short-term results were investigated
Authors state the study did not establish a stricter animal model for studying osteogenesis

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": 0.05,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": "Cultured mouse bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) and mice receiving BMSC transplants into femur cortical bone with PLGA scaffold",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Cell proliferation (MTT assay)",
    "Alkaline phosphatase activity (differentiation marker)",
    "Cell cycle distribution (G2/M+S fraction)",
    "Bone nodule formation",
    "Collagen I gene expression (mRNA by RT-PCR)",
    "Histology of bone tissue after transplantation (H&E staining at 4 and 8 weeks)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Exposure to low-intensity EMFs (0.5 mT, 50 Hz) was reported to accelerate BMSC proliferation, enhance differentiation (including increased alkaline phosphatase activity), increase the G2/M+S cell-cycle fraction, and increase collagen I mRNA versus control. The EMF plus osteogenic medium group formed bone nodules more readily, and H&E staining showed clear flaking of bone tissue in the irradiated group after transplantation.",
  "effect_direction": "benefit",
  "limitations": [
    "Exposure duration not specified in abstract",
    "Sample size not reported in abstract",
    "Authors note only short-term results were investigated",
    "Authors state the study did not establish a stricter animal model for studying osteogenesis"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "extremely low frequency",
    "ELF EMF",
    "50 Hz",
    "0.5 mT",
    "bone marrow stromal cells",
    "BMSC",
    "proliferation",
    "differentiation",
    "alkaline phosphatase",
    "collagen I",
    "cell cycle",
    "osteogenesis",
    "PLGA scaffold",
    "mouse"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "elf-emf",
      "weight": 0.9,
      "reason": "Study uses 50 Hz, 0.5 mT extremely low frequency magnetic field exposure."
    },
    {
      "slug": "stem-cells-tissue-engineering",
      "weight": 0.6,
      "reason": "Investigates EMF effects on cultured BMSCs and transplantation with PLGA scaffold."
    }
  ]
}

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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: 10.2522/ptj.20110224
PubMed: 22577063

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