Author: Anbarasan S1, Baraneedharan U2, Paul SF1, Kaur H1, Rangaswami S3, Bhaskar E4.
Affiliation: 1Department of Human Genetics, Sri Ramachandra University, Porur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. 2Department of Biomedical Sciences, Sri Ramachandra University, Porur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. 3Department of Orthopaedics, Sri Ramachandra University, Porur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. 4Department of General Medicine, Sri Ramachandra University, Porur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
Conference/Journal: Indian J Orthop.
Date published: 2016 Jan-Feb
Other:
Volume ID: 50 , Issue ID: 1 , Pages: 87-93 , Special Notes: doi: 10.4103/0019-5413.173522. , Word Count: 240
BACKGROUND: Pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) is used to treat bone and joint disorders for over 30 years. Recent studies demonstrate a significant effect of PEMF on bone and cartilage proliferation, differentiation, synthesis of extracellular matrix (ECM) and production of growth factors. The aim of this study is to assess if PEMF of low frequency, ultralow field strength and short time exposure have beneficial effects on in-vitro cultured human chondrocytes.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Primary human chondrocytes cultures were established using articular cartilage obtained from knee joint during joint replacement surgery. Post characterization, the cells were exposed to PEMF at frequencies ranging from 0.1 to 10 Hz and field intensities ranging from 0.65 to 1.95 μT for 60 min/day for 3 consecutive days to analyze the viability, ECM component synthesis, proliferation and morphology related changes post exposure. Association between exposure doses and cellular effects were analyzed with paired't' test.
RESULTS: In-vitro PEMF exposure of 0.1 Hz frequency, 1.95 μT and duration of 60 min/day for 3 consecutive days produced the most favorable response on chondrocytes viability (P < 0.001), ECM component production (P < 0.001) and multiplication. Exposure of identical chondrocyte cultures to PEMFs of 0.65 μT field intensity at 1 Hz frequency resulted in less significant response. Exposure to 1.3 μT PEMFs at 10 Hz frequency does not show any significant effects in different analytical parameters.
CONCLUSIONS: Short duration PEMF exposure may represent a new therapy for patients with Osteoarthritis (OA).
KEYWORDS: Human chondrocytes; Osteoarthritis; articular; cartilage; chondrocytes; electromagnetic fields; osteoarthritis; pulsed electromagnetic field
PMID: 26955182 [PubMed]