title: Shielding of the Geomagnetic Field Alters Actin Assembly and Inhibits Cell Motility in Human Neuroblastoma Cells.
abstract: Accumulating evidence has shown that absence of the geomagnetic field (GMF), the so-called hypomagnetic field (HMF) environment, alters the biological functions in seemingly non-magnetosensitive cells and organisms, which indicates that the GMF could be sensed by non-iron-rich and non-photo-sensing cells. The underlying mechanisms of the HMF effects on those cells are closely related to their GMF sensation but remain poorly understood so far. Previously, we found that the HMF represses expressions of genes associated with cell migration and cytoskeleton assembly in human neuroblastoma cells (SH-SY5Y cell line). Here, we measured the HMF-induced changes on cell morphology, adhesion, motility and actin cytoskeleton in SH-SY5Y cells. The HMF inhibited cell adhesion and migration accompanied with a reduction in cellular F-actin amount. Moreover, following exposure to the HMF, the number of cell processes was reduced and cells were smaller in size and more round in shape. Furthermore, disordered kinetics of actin assembly in vitro were observed during exposure to the HMF, as evidenced by the presence of granule and meshed products. These results indicate that elimination of the GMF affects assembly of the motility-related actin cytoskeleton, and suggest that F-actin is a target of HMF exposure and probably a mediator of GMF sensation.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.|Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia.
authors.forename: Wei-Chuan
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Mo
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.|Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China.
authors.forename: Zi-Jian
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
authors.forename: Dong-Liang
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia.
authors.forename: Perry F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Bartlett
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.|Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.|Alzheimer's Disease Center, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 10069, China.
authors.forename: Rong-Qiao
authors.initials: RQ
authors.lastname: He
mesh_terms: D008841:Actin Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D000199:Actins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology; D015870:Gene Expression; D055593:Geological Phenomena; D006801:Humans; D060526:Magnetic Fields; D008870:Microtubules / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*
chemical_list: D000199:Actins