title: Synergic effect of retinoic acid and extremely low frequency magnetic field exposure on human neuroblastoma cell line BE(2)C.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to assess whether exposure to a sinusoidal extremely low frequency magnetic field (ELF-MF; 50 Hz, 1 mT) can affect proliferation and differentiation in the human neuroblastoma cell line BE(2)C, which is representative of high risk neuroblastomas. Cells were subjected to ELF-MF exposure in the presence or absence of a neuronal differentiating agent (all-trans-retinoic acid, ATRA) for 24-72 h. In each experiment, ELF-MF-exposed samples were compared to sham-exposed samples. Cells exposed to ELF-MF combined with retinoic treatment showed a decreased cellular proliferation and an increased proportion of G(0)/G(1) phase cells compared to cells exposed to either treatment alone. Moreover, ELF-MF- and ATRA-treated cells showed more differentiated morphological traits (a higher neurite number/cell, an increased neurite length), together with a significant increase of mRNA levels of p21(WAF1/CIP1) and cdk5 genes, both involved in neuronal differentiation. In addition, the expression of cyp19 gene, which is involved both in neuronal differentiation and stress response, was evaluated; cyp19 gene expression was enhanced by ATRA treatment and significantly enhanced further by ELF-MF exposure combined with ATRA. In conclusion, our data suggest that ELF-MF exposure can strengthen ATRA effects on neuroblastoma cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Evolutionary Experimental Biology, University of Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Marcantonio
authors.forename: Brunella
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Del Re
authors.forename: Alessia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Franceschini
authors.forename: Miriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Capri
authors.forename: Stella
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lukas
authors.forename: Ferdinando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bersani
authors.forename: Gianfranco
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Giorgi
mesh_terms: D001141:Aromatase / Q000235:genetics; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D051360:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 5 / Q000235:genetics; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 / Q000235:genetics; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008280:Magnetics; D016501:Neurites / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000473:pathology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014212:Tretinoin; D001141:Aromatase; D051360:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 5