9 research outputs found
Proteomics of human primary osteoarthritic chondrocytes exposed to extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF EMFs) and to therapeutic application of musically modulated electromagnetic fields (TAMMEF).
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most frequent joint disease, characterized by
degradation of extracellular matrix and alterations in chondrocyte metabolism.
Some authors reported that electromagnetic fields (EMFs) can positively interfere
with patients affected by OA, even though the nature of the interaction is still
debated. Human primary osteoarthritic chondrocytes isolated from the femoral
heads of OA-patients undergoing to total hip replacement, were cultured in vitro
and exposed 30?min/day for two weeks to extremely-low-frequency electromagnetic
field (ELF) with fixed frequency (100?Hz) and to therapeutic application of
musically modulated electromagnetic fields (TAMMEF) with variable frequencies,
intensities and waveforms. Sham-exposed (S.E.) cells served as control group.
Cell viability was measured at days 2, 7 and 14. After two weeks, cell lysates
were processed using a proteomic approach. Chondrocyte exposed to ELF and TAMMEF
system demonstrated different viability compared to untreated chondrocytes
(S.E.). Proteome analysis of 2D-Electrophoresis and protein identification by
mass spectrometry showed different expression of proteins derived from nucleus,
cytoplasm and organelles. Function analysis of the identified proteins showed
changes in related-proteins metabolism (glyceraldeyde-3-phosphate-dehydrogenase),
stress response (Mn-superoxide-dismutase, heat-shock proteins), cytoskeletal
regulation (actin), proteinase inhibition (cystatin-B) and inflammation
regulatory functions (S100-A10, S100-A11) among the experimental groups (ELF,
TAMMEF and S.E.). In conclusion, EMFs do not cause damage to chondrocytes,
besides stimulate safely OA-chondrocytes and are responsible of different protein
expression among the three groups. Furthermore, protein analysis of
OA-chondrocytes treated with ELF and the new TAMMEF systems could be useful to
clarify the pathogenetic mechanisms of OA by identifying biomarkers of the
disease