Electromagnetic field treatment increases purinergic receptor P2X7 expression and activates its downstream Akt/GSK3β/β-catenin axis in mesenchymal stem cells under osteogenic induction

BACKGROUND: Imbalance in bone formation and resorption is a crucial component of the pathological process leading to osteoporosis. Electromagnetic fields (EMFs) have been reported to be beneficial to osteogenesis, although the exact mechanism has not been fully clarified. Purinergic receptor P2X7 is expressed in osteoblasts and is reported to participate in the regulation of bone metabolism. OBJECTIVES: To elucidate the link between EMFs and P2X7 expression and investigate its potential as a novel therapeutic target in osteoporosis. METHOD: We investigated the effect of EMFs on P2X7 expression and downstream signaling in human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (h-MSCs). We also established an ovariectomized (OVX) osteoporosis rat model to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of combining EMFs with P2X7 agonists. RESULTS: EMF treatment increased P2X7 expression in h-MSCs under conditions of osteogenic induction but not under regular culture conditions. P2X7 or PI3K/Akt inhibition partially inhibited the pro-osteogenic effect of EMF and lowered the EMF-stimulated activity of the Akt/GSK3β/β-catenin axis. No additive effect of this suppression was observed following simultaneous inhibition of P2X7 and PI3K/Akt. EMF treatment in the presence of a P2X7 agonist had a greater effect in increasing osteogenic marker expression than that of EMF treatment alone. In the OVX osteoporosis model, the therapeutic efficacy of combining EMFs with P2X7 agonists was superior to that of EMF treatment alone. CONCLUSIONS: EMF treatment increases P2X7 expression by h-MSCs during osteogenic differentiation, leading to activation of the Akt/GSK3β/β-catenin axis, which promotes the osteogenesis. Our findings also indicate that combined EMF and P2X7 agonist treatment may be an effective novel strategy for osteoporosis therapy.