Medical/biological study (experimental study)

The Influence of the Extremely Low Frequency Electromagnetic Field on Clear Cell Renal Carcinoma med./bio.

By: Cios A, Ciepielak M, Stankiewicz W, Szymański Ł

Published in: Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22 (3): 1342

Aim of study (acc. to author)

The effects of exposure of different clear cell renal carcinoma cell lines and non-cancerous cells to a 50 Hz magnetic field on cell morphology and functions should be investigated.

Background/further details

786-O, 769-P and Caki1 cells were used as clear cell renal carcinoma cell lines, HEK293 as non-cancerous cell line for comparison. Cells from all cell lines were divided into an exposure group and a control group, respectively. Depending on the investigated parameter, cells were investigated directly, 24 hours, 48 hours and/or 72 hours after the end of exposure. Cells treated with hydrogen peroxide were used as a positive control to study oxidative stress.

Endpoint

cell function: cell migration and invasion, ROS generation
cell viability/cell division/proliferation: cell viability, cell morphology, apoptosis, cell cycle analysis

Exposure

- 50/60 Hz
- magnetic field

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 50 Hz Exposure duration: 30 minutes/day for 5 days	magnetic flux density: 4.5 mT

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	50 Hz
Type	magnetic field
Exposure duration	30 minutes/day for 5 days

Exposure setup

Exposure source	Helmholtz coils
Setup	cells were seeded into flat-bottom 6-well plate and were cultured as monolayers; after 72 h of being plated, exposure at room temperature started; the magnetic field did not induce changes in the temperature of the plates or wells where the cells were located
Sham exposure	A sham exposure was conducted.

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
magnetic flux density	4.5 mT	-	-	-	-

Exposed system:

intact cell/cell culture
HEK293 (kidney cells), 786-O, 769-P, and Caki1 (clear cell renal carcinoma cell lines)

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

cell function: cell migration and invasion (migration through membrane towards chemoattractant; crystal violet stain, microscopy), ROS generation (flow cytometry)
cell viability/cell division/proliferation: cell viability (resazurin stain, spectrophotometry), cell morphology and aggregation (hanging drop assay), apoptosis (annexin V, FITC and propidium iodide stain; flow cytometry), cell cycle analysis (flow cytometry)

Investigated system:

intact cell/cell culture

Time of investigation:

after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

Cell morphology was not affected by exposure to the magnetic field in any cell line, while cell viability was slightly decreased in all cancer cells lines and increased in HEK203 cells compared to the control groups. Exposure to the magnetic field induced a G0/G1 arrest in cell cycle in all cancer cell lines compared to the control groups and a significant increase in apoptosis was observed in exposed 786-O cells compared to the control group. A significant increase in ROS generation was observed in exposure groups of all cell lines compared to the control groups. Cell migration and invasion abilities were significantly decreased in all exposed cancer cells compared to the control groups.
The authors concluded that exposure to a 50 Hz magnetic field might have different effects on clear cell renal carcinoma cell lines and non-cancerous cells.

Study character:

medical/biological study
experimental study
full/main study

Study funded by

not stated/no funding

Tang JY et al. (2019): Effects of extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields on B16F10 cancer cells
Koziorowska A et al. (2018): Extremely low frequency variable electromagnetic fields affect cancer and noncancerous cells in vitro differently: Preliminary study
Song K et al. (2018): A 60 Hz uniform electromagnetic field promotes human cell proliferation by decreasing intracellular reactive oxygen species levels
Koziorowska A et al. (2017): The impact of electromagnetic fields with frequency of 50 Hz on metabolic activity of cells in vitro
Restrepo AF et al. (2016): Effects of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields on in-vitro cellular cultures HeLa and CHO
Lee HC et al. (2015): Effect of extremely low frequency magnetic fields on cell proliferation and gene expression
Zimmerman JW et al. (2012): Cancer cell proliferation is inhibited by specific modulation frequencies
Koh EK et al. (2008): A 60-Hz sinusoidal magnetic field induces apoptosis of prostate cancer cells through reactive oxygen species
Santini MT et al. (2006): A 50 Hz sinusoidal magnetic field does not damage MG-63 three-dimensional tumor spheroids but induces changes in their invasive properties
Huang L et al. (2006): Effects of sinusoidal magnetic field observed on cell proliferation, ion concentration, and osmolarity in two human cancer cell lines
Guo H et al. (2004): Study of the effects of 50 Hz homogeneous magnetic field on apoptosis and proliferation of SNU cells in vitro
Yoshizawa H et al. (2002): No effect of extremely low-frequency magnetic field observed on cell growth or initial response of cell proliferation in human cancer cell lines
Supino R et al. (2001): Sinusoidal 50 Hz magnetic fields do not affect structural morphology and proliferation of human cells in vitro
Glück B et al. (2001): Inhibition of proliferation of human lymphoma cells U937 by a 50 Hz electromagnetic field
Babincová M et al. (2000): Influence of alternating magnetic fields on two-dimensional tumor growth