Chondrogenic Differentiation of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells: Effect of Electromagnetic Fields

Abstract

Electromagnetic fields (EMF) have been shown to exert beneficial effects on cartilage tissue. Nowadays differentiated human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) are discussed as an alternative to repair cartilage. Therefore the impact of EMF on hMSCs during chondrogenic differentiation plays an important role. HMSCs cultures exposed to homogeneous sinusoidal extremely low-frequency magnetic fields (5 mT) produced by a solenoid underwent chondrogenic differentiation. After 3 weeks of culture chondrogenesis was assessed by toluidine blue and safranin-O staining, immunohistochemistry, quantitative real-time PCR for cartilage specific proteins and a DMMB-dye binding assay for glycosaminoglycans. Under EMF hMSCs showed a significant increase of collagen type II expression at passage 6. Aggrecan and SOX9 expression did not change significantly after EMF exposure. Collagen type X expression decreased under electromagnetic stimulation. Pellet cultures at passage 5 which had been treated by EMF provided a higher glycosaminoglycan (GAG)/DNA content than cultures which had not been exposed to EMF. Chondrogenic differentiation of hMSCs may be improved by EMF regarding collagen type II expression and GAG content of cultures. EMF might be a way to stimulate and maintain chondrogenesis of hMSCs and therefore a new step in regenerative medicine regarding tissue engineering of cartilage.KeywordsChondrogenic DifferentiationHuman Mesenchymal Stem CellAutologous Chondrocyte ImplantationPellet CultureChondrogenic PotentialThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.