Medical/biological study (experimental study)

50 Hz electromagnetic field produced changes in FTIR spectroscopy associated with mitochondrial transmembrane potential reduction in neuronal-like SH-SY5Y cells med./bio.

By: Calabro E, Condello S, Curro M, Ferlazzo N, Vecchio M, Caccamo D, Magazu S, Ientile R

Published in: Oxid Med Cell Longev 2013: 414393

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 50 Hz Exposure duration: continuous for 4 hours	magnetic flux density: 0.05 mT magnetic flux density: 0.63 mT magnetic flux density: 0.81 mT magnetic flux density: 1.41 mT

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	50 Hz
Type	magnetic field
Exposure duration	continuous for 4 hours

Exposure setup

Exposure source	Helmholtz coils
Chamber	cells were exposed in 25 cm² culture flasks or in 96-well plates
Setup	samples were placed between the coils at the centre of a uniform field area; exposure system consisted of a couple of Helmholtz coils, with pole pieces of round polar faces; coil radius was 150 mm; coils were put in incubator ( 5% CO₂, 95% humidity, 37.1°C)
Sham exposure	A sham exposure was conducted.

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
magnetic flux density	0.05 mT	-	measured and calculated	-	-
magnetic flux density	0.63 mT	-	measured and calculated	-	-
magnetic flux density	0.81 mT	-	measured and calculated	-	-
magnetic flux density	1.41 mT	-	measured and calculated	-	-

Exposed system:

intact cell/cell culture
SH-SY5Y (human neuroblastoma cell line)

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

cell function: mitochondrial transmembrane potential (incorporation of the cationic fluorescent dye rhodamine 123, fluorescence spectrometry)
cell viability/cell division/proliferation: cell viability (MTT assay)
conformational changes of proteins, DNA and lipids (absorption spectra of functional groups, FTIR spectroscopy)

Investigated system:

isolated bio./chem. substance
organelle/cell part
intact cell/cell culture

Time of investigation:

after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

In cell cultures exposed to magnetic flux densities of 0.63 mT or higher, the cell viability was signicantly decreased compared to the control group. Additionally, in cells exposed to a magnetic flux density of 1.41 mT, the transmembrane potential was significantly decreased in comparison to the control.
The exposure of 0.81 mT and higher led to significantly changed absorption spectra of the functional groups. These changes suggest conformational changes in proteins, DNA and lipids.
The authors conclude that exposure to extremely low frequency magnetic fields led to conformational changes of different biological molecules in neuroblastoma cells and that these alterations can be associated with a reduction of the mitochondrial transmembrane potential and the cell viability.

Study character:

medical/biological study
experimental study
full/main study

Study funded by

not stated/no funding

Consales C et al. (2021): Exposure of the SH-SY5Y Human Neuroblastoma Cells to 50-Hz Magnetic Field: Comparison Between Two-Dimensional (2D) and Three-Dimensional (3D) In Vitro Cultures
Benassi B et al. (2016): Extremely low frequency magnetic field (ELF-MF) exposure sensitizes SH-SY5Y cells to the pro-Parkinson's disease toxin MPP+
Feng B et al. (2016): Exposure to a 50-Hz magnetic field induced mitochondrial permeability transition through the ROS/GSK-3beta signaling pathway
Calabro E (2016): Competition between hydrogen bonding and protein aggregation in neuronal-like cells under exposure to 50 Hz magnetic field
Reale M et al. (2016): Effect of environmental extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields exposure on inflammatory mediators and serotonin metabolism in a human neuroblastoma cell line
Destefanis M et al. (2015): Extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields affect proliferation and mitochondrial activity of human cancer cell lines
Luukkonen J et al. (2014): Induction of genomic instability, oxidative processes, and mitochondrial activity by 50Hz magnetic fields in human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells
Calabro E et al. (2013): Effects of low intensity static magnetic field on FTIR spectra and ROS production in SH-SY5Y neuronal-like cells
Calabro E et al. (2011): Static and 50 Hz Electromagnetic Fields Effects on Human Neuronal-Like Cells Vibration Bands in the Mid-Infrared Region
Farina M et al. (2010): ELF-EMFs induced effects on cell lines: controlling ELF generation in laboratory
Ikehara T et al. (2003): Effects of ELF magnetic field on membrane protein structure of living HeLa cells studied by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy

50 Hz electromagnetic field produced changes in FTIR spectroscopy associated with mitochondrial transmembrane potential reduction in neuronal-like SH-SY5Y cells med./bio.

Aim of study (acc. to author)

Endpoint

Exposure