TY - GEN
T1 - Magnetic fields protect from apoptosis via redox alteration
AU - De Nicola, Milena
AU - Cordisco, S.
AU - Cerella, C.
AU - Albertini, M. C.
AU - D'Alessio, M.
AU - Accorsi, A.
AU - Bergamaschi, A.
AU - Magrini, A.
AU - Ghibelli, L.
PY - 2006/12
Y1 - 2006/12
N2 - Magnetic fields (MFs) are receiving much attention in basic research due to their emerging ability to alter intracellular signaling.We show here that static MFs with intensity of 6 mT significantly alter the intracellular redox balance of U937 cells. A strong increase of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and a decrease of glutathione (GSH) intracellular levels were found after 2 h of MF exposure and maintained thereafter. We found that also other types of MFs, such as extremely-low-frequency (ELF) MFs affect intracellular GSH starting from a threshold at 0.09 mT. We previously reported that static MFs in the intensity range of 0.3-60 mT reduce apoptosis induced by damaging agents (Fanelli et al., 1998). Here, we show that ELF-MFs are also able to protect U937 from apoptosis. Interestingly, this ability is limited to the ELF intensities able to alter redox equilibrium, indicating a link between MF's antiapoptotic effect and the MF alteration of intracellular redox balance. This suggests that MF-produced redox alterations may be part of the signaling pathway leading to apoptosis antagonism. Thus, we tested whether MFs may still exert an antiapoptotic action in cells where the redox statewas artificially altered in both directions, that is, by creating an oxidative (via GSH depletion with BSO) or a reducing (with DTT) cellular environment. In both instances, MFs fail to affect apoptosis. Thus, a correct intracellular redox state is required in order for MFs to exert their antiapoptotic effect.
AB - Magnetic fields (MFs) are receiving much attention in basic research due to their emerging ability to alter intracellular signaling.We show here that static MFs with intensity of 6 mT significantly alter the intracellular redox balance of U937 cells. A strong increase of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and a decrease of glutathione (GSH) intracellular levels were found after 2 h of MF exposure and maintained thereafter. We found that also other types of MFs, such as extremely-low-frequency (ELF) MFs affect intracellular GSH starting from a threshold at 0.09 mT. We previously reported that static MFs in the intensity range of 0.3-60 mT reduce apoptosis induced by damaging agents (Fanelli et al., 1998). Here, we show that ELF-MFs are also able to protect U937 from apoptosis. Interestingly, this ability is limited to the ELF intensities able to alter redox equilibrium, indicating a link between MF's antiapoptotic effect and the MF alteration of intracellular redox balance. This suggests that MF-produced redox alterations may be part of the signaling pathway leading to apoptosis antagonism. Thus, we tested whether MFs may still exert an antiapoptotic action in cells where the redox statewas artificially altered in both directions, that is, by creating an oxidative (via GSH depletion with BSO) or a reducing (with DTT) cellular environment. In both instances, MFs fail to affect apoptosis. Thus, a correct intracellular redox state is required in order for MFs to exert their antiapoptotic effect.
KW - Apoptosis
KW - Extremely-low-frequency magnetic fields
KW - Glutathione
KW - ROS
KW - Static magnetic fields
KW - U937
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=34247574689&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1196/annals.1378.006
DO - 10.1196/annals.1378.006
M3 - Conference contribution
C2 - 17384247
AN - SCOPUS:34247574689
SN - 1573316458
SN - 9781573316453
T3 - Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
SP - 59
EP - 68
BT - Signal Transduction Pathways, Part A
PB - Blackwell Publishing Inc.
ER -