Biochemical and Genetic Effects of Shock Waves Studied in Adipose Stem Cells

The use of shock waves in a clinical setting have become routine and find application in dissolving kidney stones and for the treatment of bone and tendon disorders.  Renewed interest in understanding the effects of shock waves on cells and tissues have emerged in the medical field due to the emergence of traumatic brain injuries in soldiers exposed to Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). Shock waves, at an interface of two materials of differing densities, are both reflected and coupled into the incident target, and the primary blast injury is the effect of the blast wave at the air–body interface. Its effects are most prominent in the body at tissue–air junctions such as the ear, lung, and intestines. Another finding that has emerged from amputees that survive these explosions is the development and formation of bone known as Heterotopic Ossification (HO) in the tissue around the amputated limb. HO is the formation and growth of bone tissue in a soft, nonosseous tissue. Here we report on our progress in studying the effects of shock loading on the cellular and tissue level. Specifically we are interested in determining the biochemical and genetic response to shock waves in adipose stem cells (pre and post treatment) as an indication of these cells' propensity to differentiate into bone. To this end we have developed new instrumentation and approaches to exert shock waves onto soft materials. Our shock waves are generated by a high-voltage spark transducer under water, and adipose-derived stem cells are grown in a closed cell-culture environment (Opticell) that can be placed in the path of the shock wave. Here we report on the results from cell viability studies, cytoskeletal staining and gene array analysis.

Figure1: Schematic diagram of the experimental set up.