Exposure of primary osteoblasts to combined magnetic and electric fields induced spatiotemporal endochondral ossification characteristic gene- and protein expression profiles

Purpose Molecular processes in primary osteoblasts were analyzed in response to magnetic and electric field exposure to examine its potential impact on bone healing. Methods Primary osteoblasts were exposed to a combination of a magnetic field and an additional electric field (EFMF) (20 Hz, 700 mV, 5 mT, continuous sinusoids) in vitro. mRNA- and protein-expressions were assessed during a time interval of 21 days and compared with expression data obtained from control osteoblasts. Results We observed an autonomous osteoblast differentiation process in vitro under the chosen cultivation conditions. The initial proliferative phase was characterized by a constitutively high mRNA expression of extracellular matrix proteins. Concurrent EFMF exposure resulted in significanly increased cell proliferation (fold change: 1.25) and reduced mRNA-expressions of matrix components (0.5–0.75). The following reorganization of the extracellular matrix is prerequisite for matrix mineralization and is characterised by increased Ca 2+ deposition (1.44). On molecular level EFMF exposure led to a significant decreased thrombospondin 1 (THBS1) mRNA- (0.81) and protein- (0.54) expression, which in turn reduced the TGFß1-dependent mRNA- (0.68) and protein- (0.5) expression of transforming growth factor beta induced (ßIG-H3) significantly, an inhibitor of endochondral ossification. Consequently, EFMF exposure stimulated the expression of genes characteristic for endochondral ossification, such as collagen type 10, A1 (1.50), osteopontin (1.50) and acellular communication network factor 3 (NOV) (1.45). Conclusions In vitro exposure of osteoblasts to EFMF supports cell differentiation and induces gene- and protein-expression patterns characteristic for endochondral ossification during bone fracture healing in vivo.