Effects of a magnetic fields on the various functions of subcellular organelles and cells

TLDR

Magnetic fields are ubiquitous and may influence cellular functions, yet no accepted hypothesis explains their biological effects. The study aimed to investigate the impact of weak magnetic fields on cellular functions. The authors exposed cells to weak magnetic fields and assessed mitochondrial activity, neutrophil signal transduction, HL‑60 cell growth and transformation, H₂O₂‑induced apoptosis, and apoptotic gene expression. Weak magnetic fields had little effect on cellular functions, while strong static fields modestly reduced ROS production but increased lipid peroxidation, and no definitive conclusions could be drawn.

Abstract

Magnetic fields (MF) are widely distributed in environment and their effects are increasing by the development of electrical machines. Several investigators reported that the MF might affect various functions of cells. However, an acceptable hypothesis has not yet been proposed. Thus, we studied the effects of weak MFs on various biological functions of cells, such as mitochondrial functions, stimulation dependent signal transduction of neutrophils, cell growth and transformation of HL-60 cells, H(2)O(2)-induced apoptosis and the expression of apoptotic genes in HL-60 cells. As a result of the study, a weak MF has scarcely any effects on various biological functions of cells. We also studied the direct effect of a static strong MF (SSMF, 600-2000 G) on the functions of cells or on Fe(2+)-induced lipid peroxidation and on reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in oral polymorphonuclear leukocytes (OPMN) without stimulation using Ferrite magnets. The generation of ROS from OPMN was slightly inhibited but Fe(2+)-induced lipid peroxidation of biological membrane was slightly stimulated by exposure to the SSMF. At present, however, conclusive results have been neither obtained experimentally nor any acceptable idea proposed.