title: Pulsed electromagnetic fields accelerate apoptotic rate in osteoclasts.
abstract: Selective control of cell function by applying specifically configured, low-energy, time-varying electromagnetic fields (EMF) has added a new, exciting dimension to biology and medicine. However, the mechanism involved is less clear. In our study, we investigated the effect of pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) on induction of osteoclasts apoptosis. A statistically significant increase of apoptotic rate in osteoclasts (48 hr after isolation) was found when exposed to 7.5 Hz PEMF with induced electric fields intensity of 3.0 muv/cm for 8 (105%, p < 0.001) and 16 hr (30%, p < 0.05). However, exposure of osteoclasts to PEMF for only 1 hr showed no statistically significant differences. These findings suggest that PEMF have the ability to speed up apoptosis of osteoclasts derived from primary osteoblasts and bone marrow cells cocultures. This in vitro study, therefore, could be considered as groundwork for in vivo PEMF applications on some osteoclasts-associated bone diseases such as osteoporosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Chung-Yuan Christian University, Chung-Li, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan. kylechang@ms1.mmh.org.tw
authors.forename: Kyle
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Walter Hong-Shong
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Ming-Tzu
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Chung
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Shih
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D010010:Osteoclasts / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar