Signalling pathways underlying pulsed electromagnetic fields in bone repair

Author: Aoao Wang#1, Xinbo Ma#2, Jiaqi Bian#3, Zhenrui Jiao1, Qiuyi Zhu1, Peng Wang4, Yantao Zhao3
Affiliation:
1 Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing, China.
2 Department of Chemistry, Capital Normal University, Beijing, China.
3 Senior Department of Orthopaedics, The Fourth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.
4 Department of Neurosurgery, The First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.
Conference/Journal: Front Bioeng Biotechnol
Date published: 2024 Jan 24
Other: Volume ID: 12 , Pages: 1333566 , Special Notes: doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2024.1333566. , Word Count: 149


Pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) stimulation is a prospective non-invasive and safe physical therapy strategy for accelerating bone repair. PEMFs can activate signalling pathways, modulate ion channels, and regulate the expression of bone-related genes to enhance osteoblast activity and promote the regeneration of neural and vascular tissues, thereby accelerating bone formation during bone repair. Although their mechanisms of action remain unclear, recent studies provide ample evidence of the effects of PEMF on bone repair. In this review, we present the progress of research exploring the effects of PEMF on bone repair and systematically elucidate the mechanisms involved in PEMF-induced bone repair. Additionally, the potential clinical significance of PEMF therapy in fracture healing is underscored. Thus, this review seeks to provide a sufficient theoretical basis for the application of PEMFs in bone repair.

Keywords: bone regeneration; mechanisms of osteogenesis; osteoblast; osteoclast; pulsed electromagnetic fields; signalling pathway.

PMID: 38328443 PMCID: PMC10847561 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2024.1333566

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