REGULATION OF TYPE II COLLAGEN GENE EXPRESSION USING SPECIFIC AND SELECTIVE ELECTRICAL AND ELECTROMAGNETIC SIGNALS

摘要

Methods and devices for the regulation of type II collagen gene expression incartilage cells via the application of specific and selective fields generatedby specific and selective electric and electromagnetic signals in thetreatment of diseased or injured articular cartilage. By gene expression ismeant the up regulation or down regulation of the process whereby specificportions (genes) of the human genome (DNA) are transcribed into mRNA andsubsequently translated into protein. Methods and devices are provided for thetargeted treatment of injured or diseased cartilage tissue that includegenerating specific and selective electric and electromagnetic signals thatgenerate specific and selective fields optimized for type II collagen geneexpression and exposing cartilage tissue to the specific and selective fieldsgenerated by specific and selective signals so as to regulate type II collagengene expression in such cartilage tissue. The resulting methods and devicesare useful for the targeted treatment of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis,cartilage injury, and cartilage defects.