title: Power frequency magnetic fields induced reactive oxygen species-related autophagy in mouse embryonic fibroblasts.
abstract: Power frequency magnetic fields (PFMF) have been reported to affect several cellular functions, such as cell proliferation and apoptosis. In this study, we investigated the effects of PFMF on mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEF) autophagy. After cells were exposed to 50 Hz PFMF at 2 mT for 0.5 h, 2 h, 6 h, 12 h, and 24 h, we observed a significant increase in autophagic markers at 6 h, including (i) higher microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3-II (LC3-II), (ii) the increased formation of GFP-LC3 puncta, and (iii) increased numbers of autophagic vacuoles under transmission electron microscope. Moreover, we provide convincing evidence using chloroquine (CQ) that the increase of autophagic markers was the result of enhanced autophagic flux and not the suppression of lysosomal function. In a search for molecular mechanisms underlying PFMF-mediated autophagy, we observe that the autophagic process involved reactive oxygen species (ROS) and was independent of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway.
authors.affiliation: Bioelectromagnetics Laboratory, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
authors.forename: Yanfeng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Bioelectromagnetics Laboratory, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: Bioelectromagnetics Laboratory, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.affiliation: Bioelectromagnetics Laboratory, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
authors.forename: Yunyun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: Bioelectromagnetics Laboratory, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058, China. Electronic address: zengql@zju.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Qunli
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zeng
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000528:radiation effects*; D001343:Autophagy / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000166:cytology; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D060526:Magnetic Fields; D051379:Mice; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species
keywords: Apoptosis; Autophagy; Mouse embryonic fibroblasts; Power frequency magnetic fields; Reactive oxygen species