Department of Internal Medicine, Endocrine and Metabolic Sciences and Biochemistry, University of Siena, Ospedale S. Maria alle Scotte, Viale Bracci, 53100 Siena, Italy.
Rheumatol Int. 2013 Jun;33(6):1567-75. doi: 10.1007/s00296-012-2600-4. Epub 2012 Dec 23.
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common joint disease, characterized by matrix degradation and changes in chondrocyte morphology and metabolism. Literature reported that electromagnetic fields (EMFs) can produce benefits in OA patients, even if EMFs mechanism of action is debated. Human osteoarthritic chondrocytes isolated from femoral heads were cultured in vitro in bidimensional (2-D) flasks and in three-dimensional (3-D) alginate beads to mimic closely cartilage environment in vivo. Cells were exposed 30 min/day for 2 weeks to extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field (ELF) with fixed frequency (100 Hz) and to therapeutic application of musically modulated electromagnetic field (TAMMEF) with variable frequencies, intensities, and waveforms. Cell viability was measured at days 7 and 14, while healthy-cell density, heavily vacuolized (hv) cell density, and cluster density were measured by light microscopy only for 3-D cultures after treatments. Cell morphology was observed for 2-D and 3-D cultures by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Chondrocyte exposure to TAMMEF enhances cell viability at days 7 and 14 compared to ELF. Light microscopy analysis showed that TAMMEF enhances healthy-cell density, reduces hv-cell density and clustering, compared to ELF. Furthermore, TEM analysis showed different morphology for 2-D (fibroblast-like) and 3-D (rounded shape) cultures, confirming light microscopy results. In conclusion, EMFs are effective and safe for OA chondrocytes. TAMMEF can positively interfere with OA chondrocytes representing an innovative non-pharmacological approach to treat OA.
骨关节炎（OA）是最常见的关节疾病，其特征为基质降解和软骨细胞形态及代谢改变。有文献报道，电磁场（EMF）可使 OA 患者获益，尽管其作用机制仍存在争议。从股骨头分离出的人 OA 软骨细胞在体外二维（2-D）培养瓶和三维（3-D）藻酸盐珠中培养，以模拟体内软骨的紧密环境。细胞每天暴露 30 分钟，持续 2 周，接受固定频率（100 Hz）的极低频电磁场（ELF）和具有可变频率、强度和波形的音乐调制电磁场（TAMMEF）的治疗应用。在第 7 天和第 14 天测量细胞活力，而在治疗后仅对 3-D 培养物通过相差显微镜测量健康细胞密度、重度空泡化（hv）细胞密度和细胞团密度。通过透射电子显微镜（TEM）观察 2-D 和 3-D 培养物的细胞形态。与 ELF 相比，TAMMEF 可在第 7 天和第 14 天提高细胞活力。相差显微镜分析显示，与 ELF 相比，TAMMEF 可增加健康细胞密度，降低 hv 细胞密度和聚集。此外，TEM 分析显示 2-D（成纤维细胞样）和 3-D（圆形）培养物的形态不同，这证实了相差显微镜的结果。总之，EMF 对 OA 软骨细胞有效且安全。TAMMEF 可对 OA 软骨细胞产生积极影响，是一种治疗 OA 的创新非药物方法。
