title: Extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field (ELF-EMF) does not affect the expression of alpha3, alpha5 and alpha7 nicotinic receptor subunit genes in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cell line.
abstract: Neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are involved in a number of functional processes, including cognition, learning and memory, and alterations in their expression and/or activity have been implicated in various neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease and schizophrenia. Epidemiological studies have shown that exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF) may contribute to the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. Given the role of nAChRs in physiological and pathological conditions, we wondered whether an extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field (ELF-EMF) may affect the expression of the molecules involved in neurodegenerative processes. In order to investigate this possibility, we studied the expression of alpha3, alpha5 and alpha7 nicotinic subunits upon exposure of the SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cell line to a 50 Hz power-line magnetic field in a "blind trial" system; various magnetic flux densities and exposure times were applied. Our studies show that the expression of some relevant components of the cholinergic nicotinic system, which is one of the most affected neurotransmission systems in AD, did not undergo any change at molecular level by environmental exposure to ELF-EMF.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Milan, via Vanvitelli 32, 20129 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Ruth Adele
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Antonini
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Benfante
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gotti
authors.forename: Milena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moretti
authors.forename: Niels
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kuster
authors.forename: Juergen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schuderer
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Clementi
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fornasari
mesh_terms: D015152:Blotting, Northern; D019086:Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic / Q000494:pharmacology; D002038:Bungarotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000528:radiation effects*; D006801:Humans; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000473:pathology; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D011869:Radioligand Assay; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D064569:alpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor
chemical_list: D019086:Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic; D002038:Bungarotoxins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D011725:Pyridines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic; D064569:alpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor; C447158:CHRNA5 protein, human; C579167:Chrna7 protein, human; C082748:epibatidine