title: Electromagnetic fields affect transcript levels of apoptosis-related genes in embryonic stem cell-derived neural progenitor cells.
abstract: Mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells were used as an experimental model to study the effects of electromagnetic fields (EMF). ES-derived nestin-positive neural progenitor cells were exposed to extremely low frequency EMF simulating power line magnetic fields at 50 Hz (ELF-EMF) and to radiofrequency EMF simulating the Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) signals at 1.71 GHz (RF-EMF). Following EMF exposure, cells were analyzed for transcript levels of cell cycle regulatory, apoptosis-related, and neural-specific genes and proteins; changes in proliferation; apoptosis; and cytogenetic effects. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis revealed that ELF-EMF exposure to ES-derived neural cells significantly affected transcript levels of the apoptosis-related bcl-2, bax, and cell cycle regulatory "growth arrest DNA damage inducible" GADD45 genes, whereas mRNA levels of neural-specific genes were not affected. RF-EMF exposure of neural progenitor cells resulted in down-regulation of neural-specific Nurr1 and in up-regulation of bax and GADD45 mRNA levels. Short-term RF-EMF exposure for 6 h, but not for 48 h, resulted in a low and transient increase of DNA double-strand breaks. No effects of ELF- and RF-EMF on mitochondrial function, nuclear apoptosis, cell proliferation, and chromosomal alterations were observed. We may conclude that EMF exposure of ES-derived neural progenitor cells transiently affects the transcript level of genes related to apoptosis and cell cycle control. However, these responses are not associated with detectable changes of cell physiology, suggesting compensatory mechanisms at the translational and posttranslational level.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Gatersleben, Germany.
authors.forename: Teodora
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nikolova
authors.forename: Jaroslaw
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Czyz
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rolletschek
authors.forename: Przemyslaw
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Blyszczuk
authors.forename: Jörg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fuchs
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jovtchev
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schuderer
authors.forename: Niels
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kuster
authors.forename: Anna M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Wobus
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D020552:Comet Assay; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry; D004249:DNA Damage; D015536:Down-Regulation; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000166:cytology*; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects*; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D013997:Time Factors; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000528:radiation effects*; D015854:Up-Regulation; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D000097642:GADD45 Proteins
chemical_list: D004247:DNA; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D000097642:GADD45 Proteins