Abstract:

Objective To investigate the effects of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMFs) on the expression of Rho-associated coiled-coil protein kinase 1 (ROCK1) and COL1A1 in human fetal sclera fibroblasts. Methods HFSFs were cultured and passaged in vitro and divided into the exposure group which was exposed to the electromagnetic field of 0.2 mT and 50 Hz for 24 h, and the control group which was not exposed to the electromagnetic field. The expressions of ROCK1 and COL1A1 mRNA were detected by the Real-Time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-Time PCR) and the expression levels of ROCK1 and COL1A1 proteins were detected by the Western blotting. Results The results of the Real-Time PCR showed that compared to the control group, the expression of ROCK1 mRNA in HFSFs of the exposure group was significantly up-regulated (t=3.006, P=0.0397), while the expression of COL1A1 mRNA was significantly downregulated (t=4.225, P=0.0134). The results of the Western blotting indicated that the expression of ROCK1 protein in HFSFs of the exposure group was increased and the expression of COL1A1 protein was decreased. Conclusion ELF-EMFs can regulate the expression of ROCK1 and COL1A1 in HFSFs and thus remodel the sclera and cause the occurrence and development of myopia.

Key words: extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields, human fetal scleral fibroblasts, Rho-associated coiled-coil protein kinase 1, collagen type Ⅰ