Extremely low frequency magnetic fields inhibit adipogenesis of human mesenchymal stem cells

Abstract

It was reported that obese (Ob/Ob) mice lose their weight and fat when treated with 0.5 T direct current electromagnetic fields. We also observed that 7.5 Hz, 0.4 T rotation of extremely low frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MF) has an inhibitory effect on obesity. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multi-potent cells capable of differentiating to different MSC lineages, including adipose. We hypothesized that inhibitory effects of ELF-MF on obesity may be related to the differentiation of MSCs to adipocytes. In the present study, we investigated the effects of 7.5 Hz, 0.4 T ELF-MF on differentiation of human umbilical cord MSCs. We found that ELF-MF inhibited adipogenic differentiation (exposed 2 h/day for 15 days) of MSCs but had no effect on osteogenic differentiation (exposed 2 h/day for 21 days). Moreover, ELF-MF inhibited adipocyte-specific expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor 2 (PPARγ2). ELF-MF promoted c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)-dependent intracellular signaling in MSCs. Furthermore, activation of the non-canonical Wnt pathway provoked the inhibition of PPARγ2 expression resulting in suppression of adipogenic differentiation. In addition, the effects of ELF-MF on growth and apoptosis of MSCs were not observed. Our data indicated that ELF-MF of 7.5 Hz, 0.4 T inhibited the adipogenic differentiation of MSCs via JNK-dependent Wnt signaling pathway, but had no effect on the growth and function of MSCs, suggesting the inhibitory effect of ELF-MF on obesity may be attributed to the inhibition of differentiation of MSCs into adipocytes. This study may provide a potential approach for the treatment of obesity.

Sinusoidal Electromagnetic Fields Increase Peak Bone Mass in Rats by Activating Wnt10b/β-Catenin in Primary Cilia of Osteoblasts

“…The roles of the different Wnt ligands in bone homeostasis and bone diseases are not yet fully understood. There have been many clinical trials and experimental studies reporting that PEMFs modulate bone metabolism through the Wnt/β‐catenin pathway . However, few researchers have investigated the Wnt ligands involved in the process, except for Wnt1 and Wnt3a .…”

Effects of electromagnetic fields on osteoporosis: A systematic literature review

“…Moreover, Song et al found that the same EMF treatment could also inhibit adipogenic differentiation and promote osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs under the environment of dexamethasone (Song et al, 2014b). Similarly, Du et al documented that EMFs of 7.5 Hz, 0.4 T inhibited the adipogenic differentiation of MSCs via JNK-dependent Wnt signaling pathway (Du et al, 2014).…”

Obesity and Chronic Pain

“…New biologic treatments, gene therapy, and stem cell therapies are being developed, 197 which require the skills of pain medicine physicians to deliver the treatment agents into the disks. Extremely low-frequency magnetic fields have been found to have the ability to inhibit adipogenesis of human mesenchymal stem cells, 198 which may generate a new direction for stem cell therapies. We predict that regenerative medicine tools, including PRP and mesenchymal-derived stem cells, soon will replace many corticosteroid injections.…”