title: 50-Hz magnetic field induces EGF-receptor clustering and activates RAS.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In a previous study, we found that exposure to a 50 Hz magnetic field (MF) could activate stress-activated protein kinase (SAPK) and P38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase (P38 MAPK) in Chinese hamster lung (CHL) fibroblast cells, and simultaneous exposure to a 'noise' MF of the same intensity inhibited these effects. In order to explore the possible target sites and upstream signal transduction molecules of SAPK and P38 MAPK, and further validate the interference effects of 'noise' MF on 50 Hz MF, the effects of MF exposure on clustering of epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptors and Ras protein activation were investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  CHL cells were exposed to a 50 Hz sinusoidal MF at 0.4 mT for different durations, and clustering of EGF receptors on cellular membrane and Ras protein activation were analyzed using immunofluorescence confocal microscopy and co-precipitation technology. EGF treatment served as the positive control.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that, compared with sham-exposed cells, exposure to a 50 Hz MF at 0.4 mT for 5 min slightly induced EGF receptor clustering, whereas exposure for 15 min enhanced receptor clustering significantly. Corresponding to receptor clustering, Ras protein was also activated after exposure to the 50 Hz MF. Exposure to a 'noise' MF (with frequency ranges from 30 - 90 Hz) at the same intensity and durations, did not significantly affect EGF receptor clustering and Ras protein. However, by superimposing the 'noise' MF, receptor clustering and Ras activation induced by 50 Hz MF were inhibited.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggested that membrane receptors could be one of the most important targets where extremely low frequency (ELF) MF interacts with cells, and Ras may participate in the signal transduction process of 50 Hz MF. Furthermore, a 'noise' MF could inhibit these effects caused by ELF-MF.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hygiene of Children and Adolescents, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: X Q
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Ke
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: D Q
authors.initials: DQ
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Y T
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chiang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D006224:Cricetinae; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism; D011905:Genes, ras; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000378:metabolism; D047468:Immunoprecipitation; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000528:radiation effects; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D018631:ras Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D005982:Glutathione Transferase; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D018631:ras Proteins