Turning on stem cell cardiogenesis with extremely low frequency magnetic fields

Abstract

Modulation of stem cell differentiation is an important assignment for cellular engineering. Embryonic stem (ES) cells can differentiate into cardiomyocytes, but the efficiency is typically low. Here, we show that exposure of mouse ES cells to extremely low frequency magnetic fields triggered the expression of GATA-4 and Nkx-2.5, acting as cardiac lineage-promoting genes in different animal species, including humans. Magnetic fields also enhanced prodynorphin gene expression, and the synthesis and secretion of dynorphin B, an endorphin playing a major role in cardiogenesis. These effects occurred at the transcriptional level and ultimately ensued into a remarkable increase in the yield of ES-derived cardiomyocytes. These results demonstrate the potential use of magnetic fields for modifying the gene program of cardiac differentiation in ES cells without the aid of gene transfer technologies and may pave the way for novel approaches in tissue engineering and cell therapy.

The influence of extremely low frequency magnetic fields on cytoprotection and repair

“…However, current methods are experiencing poor yields in terms of cells that migrate to damaged areas and then differentiate into a desired cell type. A new study by Ventura et al [2005] has demonstrated the ability of 0.8 mT (rms) 50 Hz magnetic fields to influence stem cell differentiation, increasing the number of cells that become myocardial cells. Using electric field stimulation Sauer et al [1999] increased stem cell differentiation into cardiomyocytes via a reactive oxygen species mechanism.…”

A Preliminary Study on Magnetic Fields Effects on Stem Cell Differentiation

“…Real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis revealed a remarkably increased of GATA-4 and Nkx-2.5 mRNA expression for both embryoid bodies (EBs) and puromycinselected cardiomyocytes [25]. Hence, the result of exposing GTR1 embryonic stem cells with this MF was the differentiation into cardiac specific cells, and this experiment was done without an aid of gene transfer technology [25].…”

“…Real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis revealed a remarkably increased of GATA-4 and Nkx-2.5 mRNA expression for both embryoid bodies (EBs) and puromycinselected cardiomyocytes [25]. Hence, the result of exposing GTR1 embryonic stem cells with this MF was the differentiation into cardiac specific cells, and this experiment was done without an aid of gene transfer technology [25]. As for information, GATA-4 and Nkx-2.5 mRNA encode respectively for a zinc finger containing transcription factor and homeodomain, and both of these have been shown to be essential for cardiogenesis in different animal species [40], [41], and human [42 ].…”

“…Stem cells are also used in tissue transplantation, and the optimal cell type to be transplanted should have these characters: (a) spontaneous disposition to integrate with the target tissue without induction of immune reaction; (b) differentiate into specific cells commitment; (c) have the capacity to develop gap junctions with host cells; and (d) have some degree of resistance to ischaemia, in order to avoid massive apoptosis, which is currently observed during cell transfer [23], [59]. The current findings of MF effect on stem cell differentiation may open a new prospective, in particular the use of MF to direct the differentiation processes of stem cells into a specific cellular phenotype without the aid of gene transfer technologies [25]. On the other hand, there are increasing public interests of possible health risk associated with ELF-MF [8], [18], [60].…”

Extremely low frequency magnetic field exposure affects DnaK and GroEL expression in E. coli cells with impaired heat shock response

“…Many studies on extremely low frequency (ELF)-MF have showed that exposure to these fields can affect biological functions such as RNA transcription, cell viability, cell proliferation although it is unknown which molecular mechanisms are involved (Babincova et al 2000;Ventura et al 2005;Williams et al 2006;Kroupova et al 2007;Novak et al 2007;Cellini et al 2008). Still it is not still clear whether ELF-MF exposure can represent a stress factor for the cells.…”