ABSTRACT
Objective To study the expressions of aggrecan (Agc) Ⅰ and Ⅱ collagen and Sox9 by bone mar-row mesenchymal stem cells exposed to electromagnetic fields (EMFs) and it's mechanisms involved. Methods Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were isolated from Sprague-Dawley rats and cultured in vitro. The third passage cells were harvested and exposed to 15 Hz 1 mT EMFs for 8 h/d. The semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polyme-rase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique was used to measure parathyroid hormon receptor related peptide (PTHrp) ,Agc Ⅰ and Ⅱ collagen and Sox9 mRNA. Western blotting was used to measure type Ⅱ collagen expression. After the inhibitor of protein kinase A (PKA) H-89 and the inhibitor of protein kinase C (PKC) Go-6976 ( 12 μm) were added, the effects of EMFs on Agc Ⅰ and Ⅱ collagen and Sox9 mRNA expressions were measured again by using RT-PCR, and Western blotting technique. Results The EMFs induced significant increase of mRNA expressions of PTHrp, Agc Ⅰ and Ⅱ collagen and Sox9 in comparison to the controls, and promoted type Ⅱ collagen protein expres-sion. The Agc Ⅰ and Ⅱ collagen expressions decreased after PKA pathway inhibitor H-89 and PKC inhibitor Go-6976 were added, but the mRNA expression of Sox9 was not affected. Conclusion This study shows 15Hz 1mT EMFs can promote mRNA expressions of Agc Ⅰ and Ⅱ collagan and Sox9 of cbondrogenesis differentiation markers in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. The effect is correlated with PKA and PKC pathways.