Cid MA, Ubeda A, Hernández-Bule ML, Martínez MA, Trillo MÁ. Antagonistic effects of a 50 Hz magnetic field and melatonin in the proliferation and differentiation of hepatocarcinoma cells.
Cell Physiol Biochem 2012;
30:1502-16. [PMID:
23235525 DOI:
10.1159/000343338]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/21/2012] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS
Epidemiological and experimental evidence exists indicating that exposure to weak, extremely low frequency magnetic fields (ELF - MF) could affect cancer progression. It has been proposed that such hypothetical action could be mediated by MF-induced effects on the cellular response to melatonin (MEL), a potentially oncostatic neurohormone. The present study investigates the response of HepG2 cells to intermittent exposure to a 50 Hz, 10 µT MF, in the presence or absence of MEL at physiological (10 nM) or pharmacological doses (1 µM).
METHODS
The Trypan blue cell exclusion test, BrdU incorporation and PCNA expression assays were carried out to assess the cellular response in terms of viability and proliferation. In addition, albumin and alpha-fetoprotein, were analyzed as specific hepatocellular differentiation markers.
RESULTS
The results indicate that the MF exerts significant cytoproliferative and dedifferentiating effects that can be prevented by 10 nM MEL. Conversely, MEL exerts cytostatic and differentiating effects on HepG2 that are abolished by simultaneous exposure to MF.
CONCLUSION
As a whole, these results support the hypothesis that ELF - MF and MEL exert opposite, mutually counteracting effects on cell proliferation and differentiation.
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