Extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields enhance the proliferation and differentiation of neural progenitor cells cultured from ischemic brains.

Neuroreport · 2015 · Benefit · Low evidence

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BenefitLow evidencePaper 4751

Study snapshot

PublicationNeuroreport · 2015

Study typeanimal

Reported directionBenefit

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

In the mammalian brain, neurogenesis persists throughout the embryonic period and adulthood in the subventricular zone of the lateral ventricle and the granular zone (dentate gyrus) of the hippocampus. Newborn neural progenitor cells (NPCs) in the two regions play a critical role in structural and functional plasticity and neural regeneration after brain injury. Previous studies have reported that extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF) could promote osteogenesis, angiogenesis, and cardiac stem cells' differentiation, which indicates that ELF-EMF might be an effective tool for regenerative therapy. The present studies were carried out to examine the effects of ELF-EMF on hippocampal NPCs cultured from embryonic and adult ischemic brains. We found that exposure to ELF-EMF (50 Hz, 0.4 mT) significantly enhanced the proliferation capability both in embryonic NPCs and in ischemic NPCs. Neuronal differentiation was also enhanced after 7 days of cumulative ELF-EMF exposure, whereas glial differentiation was not influenced markedly. The expression of phosphorylated Akt increased during the proliferation process when ischemic NPCs were exposed to ELF-EMF. However, blockage of the Akt pathway abolished the ELF-EMF-induced proliferation of ischemic NPCs. These data show that ELF-EMF promotes neurogenesis of ischemic NPCs and suggest that this effect may occur through the Akt pathway.Video abstract, Supplemental Digital Content 1, links.lww.com.

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 directionbenefit

PopulationHippocampal neural progenitor cells (NPCs) cultured from embryonic and adult ischemic brains

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureELF · 7 days cumulative exposure (for differentiation outcome)

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Exposure to ELF-EMF (50 Hz, 0.4 mT) significantly enhanced proliferation in embryonic NPCs and ischemic NPCs. Neuronal differentiation increased after 7 days of cumulative exposure, while glial differentiation was not markedly influenced. Phosphorylated Akt increased with ELF-EMF exposure during proliferation in ischemic NPCs, and blocking the Akt pathway abolished the ELF-EMF-induced proliferation.

Outcomes measured

NPC proliferation
Neuronal differentiation
Glial differentiation
Phosphorylated Akt expression
Effect of Akt pathway blockade on ELF-EMF-induced proliferation

Limitations

In vitro cell culture model (NPCs cultured from brains)
Sample size not reported in provided abstract
Exposure schedule/details beyond '7 days cumulative exposure' not provided

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "7 days cumulative exposure (for differentiation outcome)"
  },
  "population": "Hippocampal neural progenitor cells (NPCs) cultured from embryonic and adult ischemic brains",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "NPC proliferation",
    "Neuronal differentiation",
    "Glial differentiation",
    "Phosphorylated Akt expression",
    "Effect of Akt pathway blockade on ELF-EMF-induced proliferation"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Exposure to ELF-EMF (50 Hz, 0.4 mT) significantly enhanced proliferation in embryonic NPCs and ischemic NPCs. Neuronal differentiation increased after 7 days of cumulative exposure, while glial differentiation was not markedly influenced. Phosphorylated Akt increased with ELF-EMF exposure during proliferation in ischemic NPCs, and blocking the Akt pathway abolished the ELF-EMF-induced proliferation.",
  "effect_direction": "benefit",
  "limitations": [
    "In vitro cell culture model (NPCs cultured from brains)",
    "Sample size not reported in provided abstract",
    "Exposure schedule/details beyond '7 days cumulative exposure' not provided"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields",
    "ELF-EMF",
    "50 Hz",
    "0.4 mT",
    "neural progenitor cells",
    "hippocampus",
    "ischemia",
    "neurogenesis",
    "proliferation",
    "neuronal differentiation",
    "Akt pathway"
  ],
  "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: 10.1097/wnr.0000000000000450
PubMed: 26339991

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