Study type: Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Exposure to 50 Hz electromagnetic field raises the levels of the anti-apoptotic protein BAG3 in melanoma cells med./bio.

By: Basile A, Zeppa R, Pasquino N, Arra C, Ammirante M, Festa M, Barbieri A, Giudice A, Pascale M, Turco MC, Rosati A
Published in: J Cell Physiol 2011; 226 (11): 2901-2907
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Aim of study (acc. to author)

To study whether exposure to 50 Hz electromagnetic fields raised anti-apoptotic BAG3 protein levels (as marker for stress) in the human melanoma cell lines in vitro and in xenografts (i.e. M14 cells were subcutaneously injected on the back of 30 BALB/c nu/nu mice (15 mice were exposed)).

Background/further details

Positive controls were performed by incubation with staurosporine.

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure Parameters
Exposure 1: 50 Hz
Exposure duration: continuous for 30 min, 3 h or 6 h
Exposure 2: 50 Hz
Exposure duration: continuous for 4 weeks
in vivo (xenografts)

General information

Positive controls for the experiments by incubation with staurosporine (250 nM).

Exposure 1

Main characteristics
Frequency 50 Hz
Type
Exposure duration continuous for 30 min, 3 h or 6 h
Additional info in vitro
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Sham exposure A sham exposure was conducted.
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
magnetic field strength 30 A/m - - - -

Exposure 2

Main characteristics
Frequency 50 Hz
Type
Exposure duration continuous for 4 weeks
Additional info in vivo (xenografts)
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Sham exposure A sham exposure was conducted.
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
magnetic field strength 30 A/m - - - -

Exposed system:

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

Investigated system:
Time of investigation:
  • during exposure
  • after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

Exposure of cultured cells or xenografts for 6 hours or 4 weeks, respectively, produced a significant increase in BAG3 protein expression. Interestingly, at the same times, the authors could not detect any significant variation in the levels of HSP70/HSP72 protein or cell apoptosis.
These data confirm the stressful effect of exposure to extremely low frequency in human cells, by identifying BAG3 protein as a marker of extremely low frequency-induced stress. Furthermore, the findings suggest that BAG3 induction by extremely low frequency may contribute to melanoma cell survival and/or resistance to therapy.

Study character:

Study funded by

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