Effect of the Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Treatment in a Rat Model of Senile Osteoporosis In Vivo

Abstract

This study assessed the effects of pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) in a rat model of senile osteoporosis and the underlying molecular events. 24-month-old male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into control and PEMF groups (n = 8 per group) using a random digit table, while 3month-old male SD rats were set as the young-age control group. Rats in the PEMF group were treated by PEMF for 40 min/day for 5 days/week. Bone mineral density/microarchitecture, level of serum bonespecific alkaline phosphatase (BALP), tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b (TRACP5b), and Wnt/βcatenin signaling genes in rat bone marrow cells were then analyzed. The 12-week PEMF intervention showed a significant effect on inhibition of age-induced bone density loss and deterioration of trabecular bone structures in the PEMF group rats versus control rats, that is, the treatment enhanced bone mineral density of the proximal femoral metaphysis and the fifth lumbar (L5) vertebral body and improved the proximal tibia and L4 vertebral body parameters using bone histomorphometry analysis. Furthermore, the BALP level in the bones was significantly increased, but the TRACP5b level was reduced in the PEMF group of rats versus control rats. PEMF also dramatically upregulated expression of Wnt3a, LRP5, β-catenin, and Runx2 but downregulated PPAR-γ expression in the aged rats. The results demonstrated that PEMF could prevent bone loss and architectural deterioration due to the improvement of bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cell differentiation and proliferation abilities and activating the Wnt signaling pathway. Future clinical studies are needed to validate these findings. Bioelectromagnetics. 43:438-447, 2022.

Playing with Biophysics: How a Symphony of Different Electromagnetic Fields Acts to Reduce the Inflammation in Diabetic Derived Cells

“…The mutagenic potential of the CMF treatment was evaluated with the Ames test by using the Salmonella mutagenicity complete test kit (Moltox, Molecular toxicology Inc., Boone, NC, USA), as described in Ferroni et al [ 30 ] Briefly, the Ti implants were extracted for (24 ± 2) h at (37 ± 1) °C, using a nutrient broth (blank) as the extraction vehicle. The same extraction conditions were set for the aluminum oxide ceramic rod (VITA In-Ceram Alumina CA-12, CE 0124, lot 15,320) (negative control) and the ICR 191 acridine (Moltox, 60–101) and sodium szide (Moltox, 60–103) (positive controls).…”

“…The first well accepted and fixed principle is that the exposure to the EMFs in the frequency range of interest do not cause damaging effects to either the patient, the operator or any third party. We worked on EMF for 10 years with different medical devices, studying different models, i.e., skin and bone [ 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 ], confirming their safety and providing both preclinical and clinical data characterized by the coherent data and useful interpretations in order to provide results and be able to replicate them in this fairly “risky” field of research. To this view, this technology can offer an excellent alternative to the classical approaches in all chronic wounds that are as highly invalidating for the patients as Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs).…”

Gathering Evidence to Leverage Musculoskeletal Magnetic Stimulation Towards Clinical Applicability

“…[192] Following IC application in vivo to osteoporosis, osteoarthritis and implant osteointegration conditions, constituents of this pathway (Wnt1, Wnt3a, Wnt10b, LRP5/6, β-catenin) were observed to be more expressed or active, both in human and non-human studies; contrarily, endogenous inhibitors of this pathway (DKK-1, Axin2, SOST, PPAR-γ) had their gene expression reduced. [87,88,98,120,[122][123][124]127,183,193] Another widely known osteogenic signaling pathway that cross-talks with the Wnt pathway is the TGF-β/BMP (2/5/7) signaling pathway, which is also found to increase following IC stimulation. [111,124,163,193] Wnt and BMP pathways can intricately regulate each other through synergistic signaling and feedback systems at all levels (ligand production, interaction of intermediates and effectors).…”

“…[194][195][196][197] Also observed to be increased upon IC stimulation is the Runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), a target gene of these pathways that induces osteogenesis [198,199] and osteogenesis-related markers (e.g., OC). [98,123,124] Runx2 is also involved in the gene regulation of some G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR), [200] which can be activated by PTH (also increased by IC stimulation [121,193] ) to initiate the sAC/cAMP/PKA/CREB signaling cascade, leading to increased sAC, serum cAMP, p-PKA and p-CREB. [102,121] This sequence of events promotes osteoblastogenic effects, for example by allowing the accumulation of β-catenin [201] and thus cross-talking with the Wnt signaling pathway.…”

Bone Healing Gone Wrong: Pathological Fracture Healing and Non-Unions—Overview of Basic and Clinical Aspects and Systematic Review of Risk Factors

“…Pulsed electromagnetic field stimulation (PEMFs) represents another approach for the treatment of bone non-unions, and is FDA-approved [130,131]. Preliminary studies are promising [132], with in vitro and in vivo trials supporting the use of PEMF in cases of osteoporosis and delayed union [133][134][135][136]. A clinical trial involving distal radius fractures is currently ongoing ("not yet recruiting" in 02/2020).…”