title: Effects of extremely low-frequency magnetotherapy on proliferation of human dermal fibroblasts.
abstract: Extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMFs) applied in magnetotherapy have frequency lower than 100 Hz and magnetic field intensity ranging from 0.1 to 20 mT. For many years, the use of magnetotherapy in clinics has been increasing because of its beneficial effects in many processes, e.g., skin diseases, inflammation and bone disorders. However, the understanding of the microscopic mechanisms governing such processes is still lacking and the results of the studies on the effects of ELF-EMFs are controversial because effects derive from different conditions and from intrinsic responsiveness of different cell types.In the present study, we studied the biological effects of 1.5 h exposure of human dermal fibroblasts to EMFs with frequencies of 5 and 50 Hz and intensity between 0.25 and 1.6 mT. Our data showed that the magnetic treatment did not produce changes in cell viability, but gave evidence of a sizeable decrease in proliferation at 24 h after treatment. In addition, immunofluorescence experiments displayed an increase in tubulin expression that could foreshadow changes in cell motility or morphology. The decrease in proliferation with unchanged viability and increase in tubulin expression could be consistent with the triggering of a transdifferentiation process after the exposure to ELF-EMFs.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Biology and Biotechnologies "L. Spallanzani" , University of Pavia , Pavia , Italy.|b Department of Radiation Oncology , IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo Foundation , Pavia , Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pasi
authors.affiliation: c Department of Physics , University of Pavia , Pavia , Italy.
authors.forename: Samuele
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sanna
authors.affiliation: a Department of Biology and Biotechnologies "L. Spallanzani" , University of Pavia , Pavia , Italy.|d Department of Medical Physics , IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo Foundation , Pavia , Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Paolini
authors.affiliation: c Department of Physics , University of Pavia , Pavia , Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alquati
authors.affiliation: c Department of Physics , University of Pavia , Pavia , Italy.|e Department of Physics , University of Milano , Milano , Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lascialfari
authors.affiliation: c Department of Physics , University of Pavia , Pavia , Italy.
authors.forename: Maurizio Enrico
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Corti
authors.affiliation: d Department of Medical Physics , IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo Foundation , Pavia , Italy.
authors.forename: Riccardo Di
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Liberto
authors.affiliation: f ASA Research Division, Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences , University of Florence , Florence , Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cialdai
authors.affiliation: f ASA Research Division, Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences , University of Florence , Florence , Italy.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Monici
authors.affiliation: a Department of Biology and Biotechnologies "L. Spallanzani" , University of Pavia , Pavia , Italy.
authors.forename: Rosanna
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nano
mesh_terms: D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000528:radiation effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000528:radiation effects; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D006801:Humans; D012867:Skin / Q000166:cytology*
keywords: Extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields; fibroblasts; magnetotherapy; proliferation