title: Potential therapeutic mechanism of extremely low-frequency high-voltage electric fields in cells.
abstract: The aim of this survey was to provide background theory based on previous research to elucidate the potential pathway by which medical devices using extremely low-frequency high-voltage electric fields (ELF-HVEF) exert therapeutic effects on the human body, and to increase understanding of the AC high-voltage electrotherapeutic apparatus for consumers and suppliers of the relevant devices. Our review revealed that an ELF field as weak as 1-10 μ V/m can induce diverse alterations of membrane proteins such as transporters and channel proteins, including changes in Ca + + binding to a specific site of the cell surface, changes in ion (e.g., Ca + + ) influx or efflux, and alterations in the ligand-receptor interaction. These alterations then induce cytoplasmic responses within cells (Ca + + , cAMP, kinases, etc.) that can have impacts on cell growth, differentiation, and other functional properties by promoting the synthesis of macromolecules. Moreover, increased cytoplasmic Ca + + involves calmodulin-dependent signaling and consequent Ca + + /calmodulin-dependent stimulation of nitric oxide synthesis. This event in turn induces the nitric oxide-cGMP-protein kinase G pathway, which may be an essential factor in the observed physiological and therapeutic responses.
authors.forename: Ka-Eun
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Soon-Kwon
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Sang-Yun
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Nam
authors.forename: Tae-Jong
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Il-Young
authors.initials: IY
authors.lastname: Cho
mesh_terms: D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049108:Cell Enlargement; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D055909:Magnetic Field Therapy / Q000379:methods; D049990:Membrane Transport Modulators / Q000378:metabolism; D010770:Phosphotransferases / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D049990:Membrane Transport Modulators; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D010770:Phosphotransferases; D002118:Calcium
keywords: Low-frequency high-voltage electric fields; cell signaling; electromagnetic fields; nitric oxide-cGMP-protein kinase G pathway