Secretome from Magnetically Stimulated Muscle Exhibits Anticancer Potency: Novel Preconditioning Methodology Highlighting HTRA1 Action

Briefly (10 min) exposing C2C12 myotubes to low amplitude (1.5 mT) pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) generated a conditioned media (pCM) that was capable of mitigating breast cancer cell growth, migration, and invasiveness in vitro, whereas the conditioned media harvested from unexposed myotubes, representing constitutively released secretome (cCM), was less effective. Administering pCM to breast cancer microtumors engrafted onto the chorioallantoic membrane of chicken eggs reduced tumor volume and vascularity. Blood serum collected from PEMF-exposed or exercised mice allayed breast cancer cell growth, migration, and invasiveness. A secretome preconditioning methodology is presented that accentuates the graded anticancer potencies of both the cCM and pCM harvested from myotubes, demonstrating an adaptive response to pCM administered during early myogenesis that emulated secretome-based exercise adaptations observed in vivo. HTRA1 was shown to be upregulated in pCM and was demonstrated to be necessary and sufficient for the anticancer potency of the pCM; recombinant HTRA1 added to basal media recapitulated the anticancer effects of pCM and antibody-based absorption of HTRA1 from pCM precluded its anticancer effects. Brief and non-invasive PEMF stimulation may represent a method to commandeer the secretome response of muscle, both in vitro and in vivo, for clinical exploitation in breast and other cancers.

Effects of radiofrequency field from 5G communication on fecal microbiome and metabolome profiles in mice

With the rapid development of 5G networks, the influence of the radiofrequency field (RF) generated from 5G communication equipment on human health is drawing increasing attention in public. The study aimed at assessing the effects of long-term exposure to 4.9 GHz (one of the working frequencies of 5G communication) RF field on fecal microbiome and metabolome profiles in adult male C57BL/6 mice. The animals were divided into Sham group and radiofrequency group (RF group). For RF group, the mice were whole body exposed to 4.9 GHz RF field for three weeks, 1 h/d, at average power density (PD) of 50 W/m2. After RF exposure, the mice fecal samples were collected to detect gut microorganisms and metabolites by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and LC-MS method, respectively. The results showed that intestinal microbial compositions were altered in RF group, as evidenced by reduced microbial diversity and changed microbial community distribution. Metabolomics profiling identified 258 significantly differentially abundant metabolites in RF group, 57 of which can be classified to Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways. Besides, functional correlation analysis showed that changes in gut microbiota genera were significantly correlated with changes in fecal metabolites. In summary, the results suggested that altered gut microbiota and metabolic profile are associated with 4.9 GHz radiofrequency exposure.

Harmonizing Magnetic Mitohormetic Regenerative Strategies: Developmental Implications of a Calcium-Mitochondrial Axis Invoked by Magnetic Field Exposure

Mitohormesis is a process whereby mitochondrial stress responses, mediated by reactive oxygen species (ROS), act cumulatively to either instill survival adaptations (low ROS levels) or to produce cell damage (high ROS levels). The mitohormetic nature of extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field (ELF-EMF) exposure thus makes it susceptible to extraneous influences that also impinge on mitochondrial ROS production and contribute to the collective response. Consequently, magnetic stimulation paradigms are prone to experimental variability depending on diverse circumstances. The failure, or inability, to control for these factors has contributed to the existing discrepancies between published reports and in the interpretations made from the results generated therein. Confounding environmental factors include ambient magnetic fields, temperature, the mechanical environment, and the conventional use of aminoglycoside antibiotics. Biological factors include cell type and seeding density as well as the developmental, inflammatory, or senescence statuses of cells that depend on the prior handling of the experimental sample. Technological aspects include magnetic field directionality, uniformity, amplitude, and duration of exposure. All these factors will exhibit manifestations at the level of ROS production that will culminate as a unified cellular response in conjunction with magnetic exposure. Fortunately, many of these factors are under the control of the experimenter. This review will focus on delineating areas requiring technical and biological harmonization to assist in the designing of therapeutic strategies with more clearly defined and better predicted outcomes and to improve the mechanistic interpretation of the generated data, rather than on precise applications. This review will also explore the underlying mechanistic similarities between magnetic field exposure and other forms of biophysical stimuli, such as mechanical stimuli, that mutually induce elevations in intracellular calcium and ROS as a prerequisite for biological outcome. These forms of biophysical stimuli commonly invoke the activity of transient receptor potential cation channel classes, such as TRPC1.

The Developmental Implications of Muscle-Targeted Magnetic Mitohormesis: A Human Health and Longevity Perspective

Muscle function reflects muscular mitochondrial status, which, in turn, is an adaptive response to physical activity, representing improvements in energy production for de novo biosynthesis or metabolic efficiency. Differences in muscle performance are manifestations of the expression of distinct contractile-protein isoforms and of mitochondrial-energy substrate utilization. Powerful contractures require immediate energy production from carbohydrates outside the mitochondria that exhaust rapidly. Sustained muscle contractions require aerobic energy production from fatty acids by the mitochondria that is slower and produces less force. These two patterns of muscle force generation are broadly classified as glycolytic or oxidative, respectively, and require disparate levels of increased contractile or mitochondrial protein production, respectively, to be effectively executed. Glycolytic muscle, hence, tends towards fibre hypertrophy, whereas oxidative fibres are more disposed towards increased mitochondrial content and efficiency, rather than hypertrophy. Although developmentally predetermined muscle classes exist, a degree of functional plasticity persists across all muscles post-birth that can be modulated by exercise and generally results in an increase in the oxidative character of muscle. Oxidative muscle is most strongly correlated with organismal metabolic balance and longevity because of the propensity of oxidative muscle for fatty-acid oxidation and associated anti-inflammatory ramifications which occur at the expense of glycolytic-muscle development and hypertrophy. This muscle-class size disparity is often at odds with common expectations that muscle mass should scale positively with improved health and longevity. Brief magnetic-field activation of the muscle mitochondrial pool has been shown to recapitulate key aspects of the oxidative-muscle phenotype with similar metabolic hallmarks. This review discusses the common genetic cascades invoked by endurance exercise and magnetic-field therapy and the potential physiological differences with regards to human health and longevity. Future human studies examining the physiological consequences of magnetic-field therapy are warranted.

Magnetic field therapy enhances muscle mitochondrial bioenergetics and attenuates systemic ceramide levels following ACL reconstruction: Southeast Asian randomized-controlled pilot trial

Background

Metabolic disruption commonly follows Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction (ACLR) surgery. Brief exposure to low amplitude and frequency pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) has been shown to promote in vitro and in vivo murine myogeneses via the activation of a calcium–mitochondrial axis conferring systemic metabolic adaptations. This randomized-controlled pilot trial sought to detect local changes in muscle structure and function using MRI, and systemic changes in metabolism using plasma biomarker analyses resulting from ACLR, with or without accompanying PEMF therapy.

Methods

20 patients requiring ACLR were randomized into two groups either undergoing PEMF or sham exposure for 16 weeks following surgery. The operated thighs of 10 patients were exposed weekly to PEMFs (1 ​mT for 10 ​min) for 4 months following surgery. Another 10 patients were subjected to sham exposure and served as controls to allow assessment of the metabolic repercussions of ACLR and PEMF therapy. Blood samples were collected prior to surgery and at 16 weeks for plasma analyses. Magnetic resonance data were acquired at 1 and 16 weeks post-surgery using a Siemens 3T Tim Trio system. Phosphorus (³¹P) Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) was utilized to monitor changes in high-energy phosphate metabolism (inorganic phosphate (P_i), adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and phosphocreatine (PCr)) as well as markers of membrane synthesis and breakdown (phosphomonoesters (PME) and phosphodiester (PDE)). Quantitative Magnetization Transfer (qMT) imaging was used to elucidate changes in the underlying tissue structure, with T1-weighted and 2-point Dixon imaging used to calculate muscle volumes and muscle fat content.

Results

Improvements in markers of high-energy phosphate metabolism including reductions in ΔP_i/ATP, P_i/PCr and (P_i ​+ ​PCr)/ATP, and membrane kinetics, including reductions in PDE/ATP were detected in the PEMF-treated cohort relative to the control cohort at study termination. These were associated with reductions in the plasma levels of certain ceramides and lysophosphatidylcholine species. The plasma levels of biomarkers predictive of muscle regeneration and degeneration, including osteopontin and TNNT1, respectively, were improved, whilst changes in follistatin failed to achieve statistical significance. Liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry revealed reductions in small molecule biomarkers of metabolic disruption, including cysteine, homocysteine, and methionine in the PEMF-treated cohort relative to the control cohort at study termination. Differences in measurements of force, muscle and fat volumes did not achieve statistical significance between the cohorts after 16 weeks post-ACLR.

Conclusion

The detected changes suggest improvements in systemic metabolism in the post-surgical PEMF-treated cohort that accords with previous preclinical murine studies. PEMF-based therapies may potentially serve as a manner to ameliorate post-surgery metabolic disruptions and warrant future examination in more adequately powered clinical trials.

The Translational Potential of this Article

Some degree of physical immobilisation must inevitably follow orthopaedic surgical intervention. The clinical paradox of such a scenario is that the regenerative potential of the muscle mitochondrial pool is silenced. The unmet need was hence a manner to maintain mitochondrial activation when movement is restricted and without producing potentially damaging mechanical stress. PEMF-based therapies may satisfy the requirement of non-invasively activating the requisite mitochondrial respiration when mobility is restricted for improved metabolic and regenerative recovery.

Untethered: using remote magnetic fields for regenerative medicine

Magnetic fields are increasingly being used for the remote, noncontact manipulation of cells and biomaterials for a wide range of regenerative medical (RM) applications. They have been deployed for their direct effects on biological systems or in conjunction with magnetic materials or magnetically tagged cells for a targeted therapeutic effect. In this work, we highlight the recent trends on the broad use of magnetic fields for the homing of therapeutic cells and particles at targeted tissue sites, biomimetic tissue fabrication, and control of cell fate and proliferation. We also survey the design and control principles of magnetic manipulation systems, including their capabilities and limitations, which can guide future research into developing more effective magnetic field-based regenerative strategies.

The gut microbiome and Alzheimer's disease: Complex and bidirectional interactions

Structural and functional alterations to the gut microbiome, referred to as gut dysbiosis, have emerged as potential key mediators of neurodegeneration and Alzheimer disease (AD) pathogenesis through the "gut -brain" axis. Emerging data from animal and clinical studies support an important role for gut dysbiosis in mediating neuroinflammation, central and peripheral immune dysregulation, abnormal brain protein aggregation, and impaired intestinal and brain barrier permeability, leading to neuronal loss and cognitive impairment. Gut dysbiosis has also been shown to directly influence various mechanisms involved in neuronal growth and repair, synaptic plasticity, and memory and learning functions. Aging and lifestyle factors including diet, exercise, sleep, and stress influence AD risk through gut dysbiosis. Furthermore, AD is associated with characteristic gut microbial signatures which offer value as potential markers of disease severity and progression. Together, these findings suggest the presence of a complex bidirectional relationship between AD and the gut microbiome and highlight the utility of gut modulation strategies as potential preventative or therapeutic strategies in AD. We here review the current literature regarding the role of the gut-brain axis in AD pathogenesis and its potential role as a future therapeutic target in AD treatment and/or prevention.

Brief exposure to directionally-specific pulsed electromagnetic fields stimulates extracellular vesicle release and is antagonized by streptomycin: A potential regenerative medicine and food industry paradigm

Pulsing electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) have been shown to promote in vitro and in vivo myogeneses via mitohormetic survival adaptations of which secretome activation is a key component. A single 10-min exposure of donor myoblast cultures to 1.5 mT amplitude PEMFs produced a conditioned media (pCM) capable of enhancing the myogenesis of recipient cultures to a similar degree as direct magnetic exposure. Downwardly-directed magnetic fields produced greater secretome responses than upwardly-directed fields in adherent and fluid-suspended myoblasts. The suspension paradigm allowed for the rapid concentrating of secreted factors, particularly of extracellular vesicles. The brief conditioning of basal media from magnetically-stimulated myoblasts was capable of conferring myoblast survival to a greater degree than basal media supplemented with fetal bovine serum (5%). Downward-directed magnetic fields, applied directly to cells or in the form of pCM, upregulated the protein expression of TRPC channels, markers for cell cycle progression and myogenesis. Direct magnetic exposure produced mild oxidative stress, whereas pCM provision did not, providing a survival advantage on recipient cells. Streptomycin, a TRP channel antagonist, precluded the production of a myogenic pCM. We present a methodology employing a brief and non-invasive PEMF-exposure paradigm to effectively stimulate secretome production and release for commercial or clinical exploitation.

Space omics research in Europe: Contributions, geographical distribution and ESA member state funding schemes

The European research community, via European Space Agency (ESA) spaceflight opportunities, has significantly contributed toward our current understanding of spaceflight biology. Recent molecular biology experiments include "omic" analysis, which provides a holistic and systems level understanding of the mechanisms underlying phenotypic adaptation. Despite vast interest in, and the immense quantity of biological information gained from space omics research, the knowledge of ESA-related space omics works as a collective remains poorly defined due to the recent exponential application of omics approaches in space and the limited search capabilities of pre-existing records. Thus, a review of such contributions is necessary to clarify and promote the development of space omics among ESA and ESA state members. To address this gap, in this review, we i) identified and summarized omics works led by European researchers, ii) geographically described these omics works, and iii) highlighted potential caveats in complex funding scenarios among ESA member states.

Modulated TRPC1 Expression Predicts Sensitivity of Breast Cancer to Doxorubicin and Magnetic Field Therapy: Segue Towards a Precision Medicine Approach

Chemotherapy is the mainstream treatment modality for invasive breast cancer. Unfortunately, chemotherapy-associated adverse events can result in early termination of treatment. Paradoxical effects of chemotherapy are also sometimes observed, whereby prolonged exposure to high doses of chemotherapeutic agents results in malignant states resistant to chemotherapy. In this study, potential synergism between doxorubicin (DOX) and pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy was investigated in: 1) MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells in vitro; 2) MCF-7 tumors implanted onto a chicken chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) and; 3) human patient-derived and MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer xenografts implanted into NOD-SCID gamma (NSG) mice. In vivo, synergism was observed in patient-derived and breast cancer cell line xenograft mouse models, wherein PEMF exposure and DOX administration individually reduced tumor size and increased apoptosis and could be augmented by combined treatments. In the CAM xenograft model, DOX and PEMF exposure also synergistically reduced tumor size as well as reduced Transient Receptor Potential Canonical 1 (TRPC1) channel expression. In vitro, PEMF exposure alone impaired the survival of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells, but not that of non-malignant MCF10A breast cells; the selective vulnerability of breast cancer cells to PEMF exposure was corroborated in human tumor biopsy samples. Stable overexpression of TRPC1 enhanced the vulnerability of MCF-7 cells to both DOX and PEMF exposure and promoted proliferation, whereas TRPC1 genetic silencing reduced sensitivity to both DOX and PEMF treatments and mitigated proliferation. Chronic exposure to DOX depressed TRPC1 expression, proliferation, and responses to both PEMF exposure and DOX in a manner that was reversible upon removal of DOX. TRPC1 channel overexpression and silencing positively correlated with markers of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), including SLUG, SNAIL, VIMENTIN, and E-CADHERIN, indicating increased and decreased EMT, respectively. Finally, PEMF exposure was shown to attenuate the invasiveness of MCF-7 cells in correlation with TRPC1 expression. We thus demonstrate that the expression levels of TRPC1 consistently predicted breast cancer sensitivity to DOX and PEMF interventions and positively correlated to EMT status, providing an initial rationale for the use of PEMF-based therapies as an adjuvant to DOX chemotherapy for the treatment of breast cancers characterized by elevated TRPC1 expression levels.

Successful application of pulsed electromagnetic fields in a patient with post-COVID-19 fatigue: a case report

Background

Post-COVID-19 fatigue is a frequent symptom in COVID-19 survivors, which substantially limits patients to achieve full recovery and potentially restrains return to work. The previous literature has not yet reported the use of pulsed electromagnetic fields in this indication.

Methods

Over the course of 5 weeks, 10 sessions of pulsed electromagnetic field treatment with a high magnetic flux density were applied to a patient suffering from post-COVID-19 fatigue syndrome. Fatigue, work ability, quality of life as well as anxiety, depression, stress level, and resilience were evaluated using validated patient-reported outcome measures.

Results

Fatigue, work ability, quality of life, and psychological well-being improved clearly over the course of the treatment and showed stable results 6 weeks later.

Conclusion

The use of pulsed electromagnetic field therapy with a device that allows sufficient penetration of the body tissue might be a promising physical modality to manage post-COVID-19 fatigue syndrome, which could reduce clinical and economic health consequences. Clinical sham-controlled studies are needed to evaluate the effect of pulsed electromagnetic fields in this indication.

Electromagnetic field exposure-induced depression features could be alleviated by heat acclimation based on remodeling the gut microbiota

BACKGROUND

Electromagnetic pollution cannot be ignored. Long-term low-dose electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure can cause central nervous system dysfunction without effective prevention.

MATERIALS/METHODS

Male C57BL/6J mice (6-8 weeks, 17-20 g) were used in this study. Depression-like and anxiety-like behaviors detected by behavioral experiments were compared among different treatments. 16S rRNA gene sequencing and non-targeted liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) metabolomics were used to explore the relationship between EMF exposure and heat acclimation (HA) effects on gut microbes and serum metabolites.

RESULTS

Both EMF and HA regulated the proportions of p_Firmicutes and p_Bacteroidota. EMF exposure caused the proportions of 6 kinds of bacteria, such as g_Butyricicoccus and g_Anaerotruncus, to change significantly (p < 0.05). HA restored the balance of gut microbes that was affected by EMF exposure and the proportion of probiotics (g_Lactobacillus) increased significantly (p < 0.01). Serum metabolite analysis suggested that HA alleviated the disturbance of serum metabolites (such as cholesterol and D-mannose) induced by EMF exposure. Both the metabolic KEGG pathways and PICRUSt functional analysis demonstrated that tryptophan metabolism, pyrimidine metabolism and amino acid biosynthesis were involved.

CONCLUSIONS

EMF exposure not only led to depression-like neurobehavioral disorders, but also to gut microbiota imbalance. HA alleviated the depression features caused by EMF exposure. Based on the analysis of gut microbiota associated with serum metabolites, we speculated that gut microbiota might play a vital role in the cross-tolerance provided by HA.

Directionalities of magnetic fields and topographic scaffolds synergise to enhance MSC chondrogenesis

Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) chondrogenesis is modulated by diverse biophysical cues. We have previously shown that brief, low-amplitude pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) differentially enhance MSC chondrogenesis in scaffold-free pellet cultures versus conventional tissue culture plastic (TCP), indicating an interplay between magnetism and micromechanical environment. Here, we examined the influence of PEMF directionality over the chondrogenic differentiation of MSCs laden on electrospun fibrous scaffolds of either random (RND) or aligned (ALN) orientations. Correlating MSCs' chondrogenic outcome to pFAK activation and YAP localisation, MSCs on the RND scaffolds experienced the least amount of resting mechanical stress and underwent greatest chondrogenic differentiation in response to brief PEMF exposure (10 min at 1 mT) perpendicular to the dominant plane of the scaffolds (Z-directed). By contrast, in MSC-impregnated RND scaffolds, greatest mitochondrial respiration resulted from X-directed PEMF exposure (parallel to the scaffold plane), and was associated with curtailed chondrogenesis. MSCs on TCP or the ALN scaffolds exhibited greater resting mechanical stress and accordingly, were unresponsive, or negatively responsive, to PEMF exposure from all directions. The efficacy of PEMF-induced MSC chondrogenesis is hence regulated in a multifaceted manner involving focal adhesion dynamics, as well as mitochondrial responses, culminating in a final cellular response. The combined contributions of micromechanical environment and magnetic field orientation hence will need to be considered when designing magnetic exposure paradigms.

Cell-Derived Vesicles as TRPC1 Channel Delivery Systems for the Recovery of Cellular Respiratory and Proliferative Capacities

Pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) are capable of specifically activating a TRPC1-mitochondrial axis underlying cell expansion and mitohormetic survival adaptations. This study characterizes cell-derived vesicles (CDVs) generated from C2C12 murine myoblasts and shows that they are equipped with the sufficient molecular machinery to confer mitochondrial respiratory capacity and associated proliferative responses upon their fusion with recipient cells. CDVs derived from wild type C2C12 myoblasts include the cation-permeable transient receptor potential (TRP) channels, TRPC1 and TRPA1, and directly respond to PEMF exposure with TRPC1-mediated calcium entry. By contrast, CDVs derived from C2C12 muscle cells in which TRPC1 has been genetically knocked-down using CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing, do not. Wild type C2C12-derived CDVs are also capable of restoring PEMF-induced proliferative and mitochondrial activation in two C2C12-derived TRPC1 knockdown clonal cell lines in accordance to their endogenous degree of TRPC1 suppression. C2C12 wild type CDVs respond to menthol with calcium entry and accumulation, likewise verifying TRPA1 functional gating and further corroborating compartmental integrity. Proteomic and lipidomic analyses confirm the surface membrane origin of the CDVs providing an initial indication of the minimal cellular machinery required to recover mitochondrial function. CDVs hence possess the potential of restoring respiratory and proliferative capacities to senescent cells and tissues.