title: Low frequency and low intensity pulsed electromagnetic field exerts its antiinflammatory effect through restoration of plasma membrane calcium ATPase activity.
abstract: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disorder affecting 1% of the population worldwide. Pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) has a number of well-documented physiological effects on cells and tissues including antiinflammatory effect. This study aims to explore the antiinflammatory effect of PEMF and its possible mechanism of action in amelioration of adjuvant induced arthritis (AIA). Arthritis was induced by a single intradermal injection of heat killed Mycobacterium tuberculosis at a concentration of 500 microg in 0.1 ml of paraffin oil into the right hind paw of rats. The arthritic animals showed a biphasic response regarding changes in the paw edema volume. During the chronic phase of the disease, arthritic animals showed an elevated level of lipid peroxides and depletion of antioxidant enzymes with significant radiological and histological changes. Besides, plasma membrane Ca(2+) ATPase (PMCA) activity was inhibited while intracellular Ca(2+) level as well as prostaglandin E(2) levels was noticed to be elevated in blood lymphocytes of arthritic rats. Exposure of arthritic rats to PEMF at 5 Hzx4 microT x 90 min, produced significant antiexudative effect resulting in the restoration of the altered parameters. The antiinflammatory effect could be partially mediated through the stabilizing action of PEMF on membranes as reflected by the restoration of PMCA and intracellular Ca(2+) levels in blood lymphocytes subsequently inhibiting PGE(2) biosynthesis. The results of this study indicated that PEMF could be developed as a potential therapy for RA in human beings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Madras Veterinary College, Vepery, Chennai, India.
authors.forename: Ramasamy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Selvam
authors.forename: Kalaivani
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ganesan
authors.forename: K V S
authors.initials: KV
authors.lastname: Narayana Raju
authors.forename: Akkalayi Chandrapuram
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Gangadharan
authors.forename: Bhakthavatchalam Murali
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Manohar
authors.forename: Rengarajulu
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Puvanakrishnan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001169:Arthritis, Experimental / Q000150:complications / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D000252:Calcium-Transporting ATPases / Q000378:metabolism*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism*; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000378:metabolism; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D007249:Inflammation / Q000209:etiology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis; D011859:Radiography; D051381:Rats; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence; D013643:Tarsus, Animal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000252:Calcium-Transporting ATPases; D015232:Dinoprostone