title: Effects of extremely low frequency (50 Hz) magnetic field on morphological and biochemical properties of human keratinocytes.
abstract: We investigated the effects on human keratinocytes (HaCaT) of exposure to a sinusoidal magnetic field of 2 mT (50 Hz). These cells are a good model for studying interaction of nonionising radiation, because they are not shielded from fields in vivo and also because they are resistant to both mechanical and thermal stimuli. We performed scanning microscopy which showed modification in shape and morphology in exposed cells. This modification is related to differential actin distribution as revealed by phalloidin fluorescence analysis. Moreover, the exposed cells show increased clonogenic capacity, as well as increased cellular growth as showed by clonogenicity assays and growth curves. Indirect immunofluorescence analysis using a fluorescent antibody against involucrin and beta4 integrin, which are respectively differentiation and adhesion markers, revealed an increase of involucrin expression and segregation of beta4 integrin in the cell membrane in cells exposed to 50 Hz; a higher percentage of the exposed cells shows a modified pattern of adhesion and differentiation markers. We also present evidence that exposure of HaCaT cells can interfere with protein kinase activity. Our observations confirm the hypothesis that electromagnetic fields at 50 Hz may modify cell membrane morphology and interfere with initiation of the signal cascade pathway and cellular adhesion.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Neurobiologia e Medicina Molecolare CNR-Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Manni
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lisi
authors.forename: Deleana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pozzi
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rieti
authors.forename: Annalucia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Serafino
authors.forename: Livio
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Giuliani
authors.forename: Settimio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Grimaldi
mesh_terms: D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000528:radiation effects; D002455:Cell Division / Q000528:radiation effects; D002460:Cell Line; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D006801:Humans; D039663:Integrin beta4; D053547:Keratin-14; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007633:Keratins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000528:radiation effects; D007700:Kinetics; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000528:radiation effects
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D039663:Integrin beta4; C507540:KRT14 protein, human; D053547:Keratin-14; D007633:Keratins