Pulsed electromagnetic fields promote the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts by reinforcing intracellular calcium transients

In this study, we demonstrated the effects of PEMF on proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts using the model of calcium transients induced by high extracellular calcium. Our results showed that PEMF can increase both the percentage of responding cells and amplitude of intracellular calcium transients induced by high extracellular calcium stimulation. Compared with corresponding extracellular calcium levels, PEMF stimulation increased proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts and related gene expressions, such as insulin‐like growth factor 1 (IGF‐1), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), runt‐related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), and osteocalcin (OCN), which can be completely abolished by BAPTA‐AM. Moreover, PEMF did not affect proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts if no intracellular calcium transient was present in osteoblasts during PEMF exposure. Our results revealed that PEMF affects osteoblast proliferation and differentiation through enhanced intracellular calcium transients, which provided a cue to treat bone‐related diseases with PEMF. Bioelectromagnetics. 2017;9999:XX–XX. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Source: Bioelectromagnetics - August 18, 2017 Category: Radiology Authors: Jie Tong, Lijun Sun, Bin Zhu, Yun Fan, Xingfeng Ma, Liyin Yu, Jianbao Zhang Tags: Research Article Source Type: research