[Abnormal shift of connexin 43 gap-junction protein induced by 50 Hz electromagnetic fields in Chinese hamster lung cells].
OBJECTIVE
To study the effects of extremely low frequency magnetic fields(ELF MF) on the amount and localization of connexin 43(Cx43) gap-junction protein in the Chinese hamster lung(CHL) cells, and to explore the mechanism of ELF MF suppression on gap-junctional intercellular communication(GJIC).


METHODS
The cells were irradiated for 24 h with 50 Hz sinusoidal magnetic field at 0.8 mT without or with 12-O-tetrade-canoylphorbol-3-acetate(TPA), 5 ng/ml for 1 h. The localization of Cx43 proteins were performed by indirect immunofluorescence histochemical analysis and detected by confocal microscopy. The second experiment was conducted to examine the quantity of Cx43 proteins level in nuclei or cytoplasm and detected by Western blotting analysis.


RESULTS
The cells exposed to TPA for 1 h displayed less bright labelled spots in the regions of intercellular junction than the normal cells. Most of Cx43 labelled spots occurred in the cytoplasm and aggregated near the nuclei. At the same time, the amount of Cx43 protein in cytoplasm were increased[(2.03 +/- 0.89) in ELF group, (2.43 +/- 0.82) in TPA group] as compared to normal control(1.04 +/- 0.17) (P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Inhibition on GJIC function by ELF MF alone or combined with TPA may be related with the shift of Cx43 from the regions of intercellular junction to the cytoplasm.
Zeng
Qunli
Q
Microwave Lab., Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310031, China.
Hu
Genlin
G
Chiang
Huai
H
Fu
Yiti
Y
Mao
Guogen
G
Lu
Deqiang
D
D000818:Animals; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000528:radiation effects*; D018031:Connexin 43 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006224:Cricetinae; D003412:Cricetulus; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017629:Gap Junctions / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology
D018031:Connexin 43; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate