PULSED ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS (PEMFS) MODULATE MYOGENESIS VIA MAGNETIC MITOHORMESIS MECHANISM OF ACTION

Abstract

Mitohormesis is central to exercise-mediated adaptation of skeletal muscles by inducing changes in calcium, certain metabolites and mitokines. For this reason, exercise is widely recognized for preventing and treating muscle atrophy. However, it can be challenging for patients who are bedridden or immobilized to exercise and strengthen their muscles. It is hence useful to develop a novel and non-invasive approach that can bring about similar benefits. Previously, we established that brief exposure (10 min) to PEMFs increased ROS and promoted in vitro myogenesis. In this study, we aim to investigate whether PEMFs produce beneficial mitohormetic adaptations similar to exercise. We show that PEMFs enhanced C2C12 myoblast mitochondrial calcium entry and respiration, telomere protective effects as well as upregulated the transcript levels of transcriptional regulators of mitochondriogenesis. Taken together, my results reveal that PEMFs act as an exercise mimetic to promote myogenesis via a magnetic mitohormetic mechanism of action.