Extremely Low-Frequency Electromagnetic Fields Affect Myogenic Processes in C2C12 Myoblasts: Role of Gap-Junction-Mediated Intercellular Communication.
Caterina Morabito, Nathalie Steimberg, Francesca Rovetta, Jennifer Boniotti, Simone Guarnieri, Giovanna Mazzoleni, Maria A Mariggiò
Author Information
Caterina Morabito: Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, Unit of Functional Biotechnology and StemTeCh Group, Centro Scienze dell' Invecchiamento e Medicina Traslazionale (CeSI-MeT), "G. d'Annunzio" University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy. ORCID
Nathalie Steimberg: Tissue Engineering Unit, Anatomy and Physiopathology Division, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy. ORCID
Francesca Rovetta: Tissue Engineering Unit, Anatomy and Physiopathology Division, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
Jennifer Boniotti: Tissue Engineering Unit, Anatomy and Physiopathology Division, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
Simone Guarnieri: Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, Unit of Functional Biotechnology and StemTeCh Group, Centro Scienze dell' Invecchiamento e Medicina Traslazionale (CeSI-MeT), "G. d'Annunzio" University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy. ORCID
Giovanna Mazzoleni: Tissue Engineering Unit, Anatomy and Physiopathology Division, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
Maria A Mariggiò: Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, Unit of Functional Biotechnology and StemTeCh Group, Centro Scienze dell' Invecchiamento e Medicina Traslazionale (CeSI-MeT), "G. d'Annunzio" University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy. ORCID
Extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMFs) can interact with biological systems. Although they are successfully used as therapeutic agents in physiatrics and rehabilitative practice, they might represent environmental pollutants and pose a risk to human health. Due to the lack of evidence of their mechanism of action, the effects of ELF-EMFs on differentiation processes in skeletal muscle were investigated. C2C12 myoblasts were exposed to ELF-EMFs generated by a solenoid. The effects of ELF-EMFs on cell viability and on growth and differentiation rates were studied using colorimetric and vital dye assays, cytomorphology, and molecular analysis of MyoD and myogenin expression, respectively. The establishment of functional gap junctions was investigated analyzing connexin 43 expression levels and measuring cell permeability, using microinjection/dye-transfer assays. The ELF-EMFs did not affect C2C12 myoblast viability or proliferation rate. Conversely, at ELF-EMF intensity in the mT range, the myogenic process was accelerated, through increased expression of MyoD, myogenin, and connexin 43. The increase in gap-junction function suggests promoting cell fusion and myotube differentiation. These data provide the first evidence of the mechanism through which ELF-EMFs may provide therapeutic benefits and can resolve, at least in part, some conditions of muscle dysfunction.
