title: Low dose short duration pulsed electromagnetic field effects on cultured human chondrocytes: An experimental study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) is used to treat bone and joint disorders for over 30 years. Recent studies demonstrate a significant effect of PEMF on bone and cartilage proliferation, differentiation, synthesis of extracellular matrix (ECM) and production of growth factors. The aim of this study is to assess if PEMF of low frequency, ultralow field strength and short time exposure have beneficial effects on in-vitro cultured human chondrocytes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Primary human chondrocytes cultures were established using articular cartilage obtained from knee joint during joint replacement surgery. Post characterization, the cells were exposed to PEMF at frequencies ranging from 0.1 to 10 Hz and field intensities ranging from 0.65 to 1.95 μT for 60 min/day for 3 consecutive days to analyze the viability, ECM component synthesis, proliferation and morphology related changes post exposure. Association between exposure doses and cellular effects were analyzed with paired't' test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In-vitro PEMF exposure of 0.1 Hz frequency, 1.95 μT and duration of 60 min/day for 3 consecutive days produced the most favorable response on chondrocytes viability (P < 0.001), ECM component production (P < 0.001) and multiplication. Exposure of identical chondrocyte cultures to PEMFs of 0.65 μT field intensity at 1 Hz frequency resulted in less significant response. Exposure to 1.3 μT PEMFs at 10 Hz frequency does not show any significant effects in different analytical parameters.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Short duration PEMF exposure may represent a new therapy for patients with Osteoarthritis (OA).
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Genetics, Sri Ramachandra University, Porur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Selvam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Anbarasan
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Sri Ramachandra University, Porur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Ulaganathan
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Baraneedharan
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Genetics, Sri Ramachandra University, Porur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Solomon Fd
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Paul
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Genetics, Sri Ramachandra University, Porur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Harpreet
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kaur
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Sri Ramachandra University, Porur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Subramoniam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rangaswami
authors.affiliation: Department of General Medicine, Sri Ramachandra University, Porur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bhaskar
keywords: Human chondrocytes; Osteoarthritis; articular; cartilage; chondrocytes; electromagnetic fields; osteoarthritis; pulsed electromagnetic field