The use of monolayer cultured chondrocytes as a cellular model in determining the effect of qur'anic recitation on primary cells growth in-vitro

Abstract

In Islamic tradition, the use of Qurʼanic recitation as sound healing for therapeutic purposes can be traced back to the times of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). Known to have an impact on emotional reactions, the number of researches done concerning sound healing has grown. It has been used in dealing with various pyscho-spiritual health problems. It is believed that not only the brain or the auditory cell react to the sound but other cells will respond to it as well. Hence, sound healing may be used to address degenerative diseases such as osteoarthritis. Cartilage is an avascular tissue made of only one cell type, chondrocytes which has minimal self-repair capacity due to the low mitotic property. Once injured and left untreated, degeneration changes will precede ageing and can be progressive. Limitations in currently available treatments for osteoarthritis is noted. These therapies serve only as a temporary measure to alleviate pain but not treating the disease. Seeking alternative ways to facilitate cartilage repair and regeneration thus become crucial. The development of a cellular model can simulate the actual microenvironment of the human body. This study evaluated the effects of the Qurʼānic recitation on the growth of chondrocytes. The cellular model was established using serially cultured chondrocytes in-vitro. The model consists of five groups exposed individually to (1) Qurʼanic recitation of Surah al-Fatihah (QR), (2) Arabic poem recitation (APR), (3) Western poem recitation (WPR), (4) speaker with no sound (SP) and (5) control group with no intervention. The exposure duration to all groups was set to 12 minutes. All groups were evaluated for cellular structure and function using microscopic evaluation via standard histology and immunocytochemistry staining. Growth kinetics, scratch assay, chondrogenic genes expression, and sulphated glycosaminoglycan (sGAG) assay are the other relevant parameters included in the study. The microscopic observation of the chondrocytes showed that the QR group maintained its chondrocytic morphology better than the other cell groups. The chondrocytes in other groups exhibited dendritic-like appearance and adopted a more fibroblastic appearance at later passages. Haematoxylin & Eosin (H&E), Alcian blue and Safranin O staining indicated the presence of cartilaginous matrix in all groups. The QR cell showed better collagen type II expression than the other groups. Collagen type I was co-expressed in all groups throughout passages. Overall, growth kinetics profile showed that the number of chondrocytes in all group increased steadily. The cell viability and growth rate are higher for the cells exposed to QR. The QR group also showed a faster and better healing effect on the scratch assay. The proliferation was rapid, and the time to heal was reduced. The overall results showed that the QR exposed cells showed better chondrogenic markers expression, especially collagen type II, than the other groups. The sGAG content increased gradually in all groups. This study suggests that the Qur'anic recitation may facilitate in cartilage repair and regeneration.