Objective: To investigate the effects of extremely low frequency electromagnetic field (ELF-EMF) on the proliferation and cytokine production of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) and the effects of mesenchymal stem cell conditioned medium (MSC-CM) on the proliferation and migration of macrophagocytes (RAW264.7).
Methods: Bone marrow derived-mesenchymal stem cells (rBMSC) were isolated from rats, cultured and randomly divided into two groups: SHAM group (absence of electromagnetic field exposure) and EMF group. Cells in EMF group were exposed to ELF-EMF (50 Hz, 1 mT, 4 h/d) under sXc-ELF. Mouse mesenchymal stem cells (mMSC) were exposed to EMF for 3 days.
Results: The cell viability, DNA synthesis and proportion of cells in S phase in EMF group increased markedly when compared with SHAM group (P<0.05). When compared with SHAM group, the mRNA expressions of M-CSF and SCF increased markedly at 2 days after EMF exposure (P<0.05), the mRNA expressions of SCF, M-CSF, TPO, LIF, IL-11 and IL-7 increased dramatically, but the mRNA expressions of IL-6, SDF-1, IFN-γ and TNF-α remained unchanged (P>0.05) in mMSCs at 3 days after EMF exposure. In EMF group, the viability of RAW264.7 after MSC-CM treatment increased markedly as compared to SHAM group (P<0.05), and the ability to migrate of RAW264.7 after MSC-CM treatment in EMF group also increased significantly when compared with SHAM group (P<0.05).
Conclusion: EMF is able to promote the proliferation of rBMSCs, up-regulate the expressions of hematopoietic growth factors in rBMSC and mMSC and increase the mMSC induced proliferation and migration of RAW264.7.
Keywords: Electromagnetic field; cell proliferation; cytokines; mesenchymal stem cells.