Static magnetic field effects on cells. A possible road to cell differentiation

摘要

The use of higher uniform magnetic field intensity, such as those used in magnetic resonance imaging, is thought to exert little influence at the cellular level. There are several experimental studies that indicate that magnetic fields are unlikely to be cell proliferation/differentiation initiators although further investigations are needed to clarify potential factors acting together with magnetic field to eventually promote changes in the signaling cascade and therefore cancer onset or neurodegenerative diseases. In this work, we report on the modifications of the signaling cascades in rat cortical neurons cultured for one hour in magnetic fields of up to 5 tesla (T). The results show a maximum at 0.75 T (～10 %) for the activation of the extra cellular-regulated kinase (ERK). These results indicate a magnetic induction of the signaling cascade events associated with cell differentiation. A possible magnetohydrodynamic effect mechanism is also discussed at the porous-membrane interface.