title: Pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) treatment reduces expression of genes associated with disc degeneration in human intervertebral disc cells.
abstract: Pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapies have been applied to stimulate bone healing and to reduce the symptoms of arthritis, but the effects of PEMF on intervertebral disc (IVD) biology is unknown.
  
  
  
  The purpose of this study was to determine how PEMF affects gene expression of IVD cells in normal and inflammatory environments.
  
  
  
  This was an in vitro human cell culture and microarray gene expression study.
  
  
  
  Human annulus fibrosus (AF) and nucleus pulposus (NP) cells were separately encapsulated in alginate beads and exposed to interleukin 1α (IL-1α) (10 ng/mL) to stimulate the inflammatory environment associated with IVD degeneration and/or stimulated by PEMF for 4 hours daily for up to 7 days. RNA was isolated from each treatment group and analyzed via microarray to assess IL-1α- and PEMF-induced changes in gene expression.
  
  
  
  Although PEMF treatment did not completely inhibit the effects of IL-1α, PEMF treatment lessened the IL-1α-induced upregulation of genes expressed in degenerated IVDs. Consistent with our previous results, after 4 days, PEMF tended to reduce IL-1α-associated gene expression of IL-6 (25%, p=.07) in NP cells and MMP13 (26%, p=.10) in AF cells. Additionally, PEMF treatment significantly diminished IL-1α-induced gene expression of IL-17A (33%, p=.01) and MMP2 (24%, p=.006) in NP cells and NFκB (11%, p=.04) in AF cells.
  
  
  
  These results demonstrate that IVD cells are responsive to PEMF and motivate future studies to determine whether PEMF may be helpful for patients with IVD degeneration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of California, 513 Parnassus Ave, S-1161, Box 0514, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA.
authors.forename: Stephanie L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of California, 513 Parnassus Ave, S-1161, Box 0514, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA.
authors.forename: Dezba G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Coughlin
authors.affiliation: Orthofix, Inc., 3451 Plano Parkway, Lewisville, TX 75056, USA.
authors.forename: Erik I
authors.initials: EI
authors.lastname: Waldorff
authors.affiliation: Orthofix, Inc., 3451 Plano Parkway, Lewisville, TX 75056, USA.
authors.forename: James T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Ryaby
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of California, 513 Parnassus Ave, S-1161, Box 0514, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA. Electronic address: lotzj@orthosurg.ucsf.edu.
authors.forename: Jeffrey C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Lotz
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007378:Interleukins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D055959:Intervertebral Disc Degeneration / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D007378:Interleukins
keywords: Degeneration; IVD; Inflammation; Lower back pain; Matrix; PEMF