DIAMAGNETIC LEVITATION AFFECTS MORPHOLOGY, CYTOSKELETON AND INDUCES APOPTOSIS OF BONE CELLS
Abstract number: P217
With the development of superconducting technology, the superconducting magnet, which can produce a stable large gradient high magnetic field (LG-HMF) environment to make diamagnetic levitation, such as biological macromolecules, cells, tissues and model animals, has become available. In this study, a superconducting magnet which can generate a magnetic force field [B (dB/dz)] of -1360 T2/m, 0 T2/m and 1312 T2/m in a 51 mm diameter room temperature bore was employed. Three magnetic force fields correspond to three apparent gravity levels (0, 1, and 2 g) and three magnetic induction intensities (12, 16, and 12 T), respectively. The superconducting magnet therefore can simulate gravitational environment from microgravity (0-g) to hypergravity (2-g). The effects of LG-HMF on bone cells, including osteoblast, osteocyte and bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSC) were investigated.
The results showed that diamagnetic levitation affected morphology and cytoskeleton architecture of osteoblast, osteocyte and BMSC. Under diamagnetic levitation conditions, the BMSC and osteocyte presented obviously apoptosis, and the process number and cell area of ostecyte dramatically decreased. The cytoskeleton of osteoblast, osteocyte and BMSC reorganized and the expression and distribution of cytoskeleton-related proteins, including vinculin, talin, paxillin was also clearly changed. The cell cycle, the secretory function and adhesive ability of bone cells were also changed by diamagnetic levitation. These findings will enhance our understanding on the biological effects of the high gradient static magnetic field.
Key words:
diamagnetic levitation, cytoskeleton, morphology, apoptosis, bone cell
Acknowledgments:
This work was supported by National Natural Foundation of China (No. 30670520) and the National High-Tech R&D Program (863) of China (Key Program, 2008AA12A220).
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