Preventive effect of Alternating current electromagnetic field exposure on diabetes-induced mitochondrial dysfunction

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K19331
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 59010:Rehabilitation science-related
• Research Institution: Kobe International University
• Principal Investigator: Nakanishi Ryosuke 神戸国際大学, リハビリテーション学部, 講師 (60807238)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: インスリン抵抗性 / 肥満 / 骨格筋 / ミトコンドリア / 筋内脂肪 / 交流磁気刺激

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study examined the effects of an alternating current electromagnetic field on high-fat feeding-induced Intramyocellular lipid accumulation in the tibial anterior muscle. Electromagnetic field exposure was administered 8 hrs/day for 16 weeks using an alternating current electromagnetic field device (max.180 mT, Hokoen, Utatsu, Japan).Alternating current electromagnetic field exposure enhanced mitochondrial metabolism. In addition, electromagnetic field exposure increased the protein expression of UCP-3 (uncoupling mitochondrial respiration, which controls energy consumption) and AMPK phosphorylation. These results indicated electromagnetic field exposure might be an effective countermeasure to insulin resistance by preventing intracellular lipid accumulation associated with high-fat feeding. These mechanisms suggest due to the increased transport of fatty acids into the mitochondria, mitochondria metabolism, and mitochondria uncoupling induced by AMPK phosphorylation.

Free Research Field

リハビリテーション科学、健康科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

骨格筋内の脂肪蓄積はインスリン抵抗性を増加させ，血糖値を上昇させる．その結果，更なる疾患を誘発する．一方で継続的な運動は筋内脂肪蓄積の改善に効果的であるが，肥満や糖尿病患者は身体的，精神的要因により運動継続が困難であることが報告されている．本研究では交流磁場の照射が運動を伴わずミトコンドリア代謝を上昇させ、筋内脂肪蓄積を予防することが明らかになった．その結果，インスリン抵抗性を改善し，血糖の上昇を抑制させる．これらの結果から交流磁場を照射することで運動と同様に筋内脂肪蓄積の予防を介してインスリン抵抗性の改善ならびに血糖値の上昇を抑制することができる有益な治療戦略となることが期待できる．