Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields induce neural differentiation in bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells med./bio.

By: Kim HJ, Jung J, Park JH, Kim JH, Ko KN, Kim CW

Published in: Exp Biol Med 2013; 238 (8): 923-931

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To examine the beneficial effects of an exposure to extremely low frequency magnetic fields on the protein expression during cell differentiation in bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells.

Background/further details

Bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells have the potential to differentiate into nerve type cells.

Endpoint

Exposure

- 50/60 Hz
- magnetic field

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 50 Hz Exposure duration: continuous for up to 12 days	magnetic flux density: 1 mT

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	50 Hz
Type	magnetic field
Exposure duration	continuous for up to 12 days

Exposure setup

Chamber	cells were incubated in an incubator at 37 °C and 5 % CO₂

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
magnetic flux density	1 mT	-	-	-	-

Reference articles

Cho H et al. (2012): Neural stimulation on human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells by extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields

Exposed system:

intact cell/cell culture
mesenchymal bone marrow stem cells

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

molecular biosynthesis: protein expression (two-dimensional gel electrophoresis) and identification of spots with a significant difference regarding intensity after 12 days (mass spectrometry, Western blot)
cell function: intracellular level of calcium ions after 12 days (immunofluorescence, flow cytometry)
cell viability/cell division/proliferation: cell morphology after 2, 6 and 12 days (microscopy), cell proliferation after 2, 6 and 12 days (BrdU incorporation); cell differentiation after 12 days (via nestin (mature neural marker) and microtubule-associated protein 2 (involved in neurogenesis), immunofluorescence, microscopy)

Investigated system:

isolated bio./chem. substance
intact cell/cell culture
cell lysates

Time of investigation:

during exposure
after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

The cell number of the exposed cell cultures was significantly decreased after 6 and 12 days compared to the control cell culture. Additionally, the cells from the exposed groups showed morphological changes that resembled neurite-like features: They appeared to be narrow, elongated and more branched than cells from the control cultures. In exposed cells, the differentiation marker "microtubule associated protein 2" was significantly increased in comparison to the control cells, while the level of the early neural marker nestin was significantly decreased. The intracellular level of calcium was significantly increased in the exposed cell cultures compared to the control cell cultures.
Using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, 8 spots with a difference in the protein expression were detected and identified with mass spectrometry. Only the protein expression of ferritin was verified via Western blot.
The data indicate that exposure to extremely low frequency magnetic fields promotes cell differentiation in bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells and may help to understand the effect of extremely low frequency magnetic field stimulation on bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells during neural differentiation and its potential use as a clinically therapeutic option for treating neurodegenerative diseases.

Study character:

medical/biological study
experimental study
full/main study

Study funded by

Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MEST), Korea
National Research Foundation (NRF) of Korea

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