The weak combined magnetic field, tuned to ion parametric resonance for Ca2+, stimulates dystrophin synthesis in the skeletal muscles of mdx mice subjected to cell therapy

The possibility of using bone marrow stem cells for treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy is intensely studied. Mdx mice are the most widely used laboratory model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. One approach of cell therapy of muscular dystrophy is substitution of bone marrow in mdx mice after their X-ray irradiation. However, this method does not allow one to increase significantly dystrophin synthesis in muscular fibers of mdx mice. To improve the effect of transplanted cells on muscle regeneration, we additionally treated mdx mice subjected to transplantation of bone marrow cells with a weak combined magnetic field tuned to ion parametric resonance for Ca2+ (Ca2+-CMF). We found that, in irradiated chimeric 3 and 5 Gy mdx mice, additional treatment with Ca2+-CMF for 1 month resulted in significant increases in the portions of dystrophin-positive muscle fibers, by 15.8 and 18.3%, respectively, as compared to the control groups. Furthermore, the share of muscle fibers without centrally located nuclei also increased. We suggest that the magnetic field with these parameters may stimulate functioning of nuclei of donor cells, which were incorporated into muscle fibers.