title: Extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields affect proliferation and mitochondrial activity of human cancer cell lines.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To date, the effects of electromagnetic fields on cell metabolism have been overlooked. The objective of the present study was to investigate the influence of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF) over mitochondrial metabolism and the consequent impact on cancer cell growth.
  
  
  METHODS
  The effects of ELF-EMF on cancer growth were investigated in several human cancer cell lines by crystal violet assay. The modulation of mitochondrial activity was assessed by cytofluorimetric evaluation of membrane potential and by real-time quantification of mitochondrial transcription. Moreover the expression of several mitochondrial proteins and their levels in the organelle were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The long-term exposure to ELF-EMF reduced the proliferation of several cancer cell lines and the effect was associated to an increased mitochondrial activity without evident changes in ATP levels. The results of our experiments excluded a transcriptional modulation of mitochondrial respiratory complexes, rather suggesting that ELF-EMF increased the energy demand. The altered mitochondrial metabolism led to changes in mitochondrial protein profile. In fact we found a downregulated expression of mitochondrial phospho-ERK, p53 and cytochrome c.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the present study indicate that ELF-EMF can negatively modulate cancer cell growth increasing respiratory activity of cells and altering mitochondrial protein expression.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Oncology , University of Torino , Torino , Italy ;
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Destefanis
authors.affiliation: a Department of Oncology , University of Torino , Torino , Italy ;
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Viano
authors.affiliation: b Department of Medical Sciences , University of Torino , Torino , Italy ;
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Leo
authors.affiliation: c Department of Physics , University of Torino , Torino , Italy.
authors.forename: Gianpiero
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gervino
authors.affiliation: b Department of Medical Sciences , University of Torino , Torino , Italy ;
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ponzetto
authors.affiliation: a Department of Oncology , University of Torino , Torino , Italy ;
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Silvagno
mesh_terms: D002452:Cell Count; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000528:radiation effects; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004579:Electron Transport / Q000528:radiation effects; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000528:radiation effects; D006801:Humans; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / Q000528:radiation effects; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects*; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000528:radiation effects
chemical_list: D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger
keywords: Extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields; cancer cell proliferation; mitochondrial activity; mitochondrial protein expression