Modulation of hydrogen peroxide production in cellular systems by low level magnetic fields

• Published in: PloS one 2011-08, Vol.6 (8), p.e22753
• Main Authors: Martino, Carlos F, Castello, Pablo R
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Angiogenesis; Animals; Apoptosis; Biology; Birds; Cancer; Cancer research; Catalase; Cattle; Cell division; Cell growth; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell survival; Cellular manufacture; Cytochrome; Cytotoxicity; Decomposition; Development and progression; Earth's magnetic field; Endothelial cells; Endothelial Cells - metabolism; Engineering; Enzymes; Fibrosarcoma; Fibrosarcoma - metabolism; Free radicals; Geomagnetic field; Geomagnetic fields; Geomagnetism; Health aspects; Humans; Hydrogen; Hydrogen ion concentration; Hydrogen peroxide; Hydrogen Peroxide - metabolism; Hypoxia; Low level; Magnetic Fields; Medicine; Metabolism; Mitochondria; Modulation; Oxidative stress; Oxygen; Pancreas; Pancreatic cancer; Pancreatic Neoplasms - metabolism; Photoreceptors; Physics; Pulmonary artery; Reactive oxygen species; Sarcoma; Superoxide dismutase; Superoxide Dismutase - metabolism; Superoxides; Telecommunications systems; Tumors; Vascular endothelial growth factor
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0022753

Increased generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and an altered redox status have long been observed in cancer cells, suggesting that ROS might be involved in the development of these cells. However, recent studies suggest that inducing an excess of ROS in cancer cells can be exploited for therapeutic benefits. Cancer cells in advanced stage tumors frequently exhibit multiple genetic alterations and high oxidative stress, suggesting that it might be possible to preferentially modulate the development of these cells by controlling their ROS production. Low levels of ROS are also important for the development and survival of normal cells. In this manuscript, we present data on the influence of the suppression of the Earth's magnetic field (low level magnetic fields or LLF) which magnitudes range from 0.2 µT to 2 µT on the modulation of hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) in human fibrosarcoma cancer cell line HT1080, pancreatic AsPC-1 cancer cell line, and bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cells (PAEC) exposed to geomagnetic field (control; 45 µT-60 µT). Reduction of the Earth's magnetic field suppressed H(2)O(2) production in cancer cells and PAEC. The addition of catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) mimetic MnTBAP inhibited the magnetic field effect. Modulating ROS production by magnetic fields may open new venues of biomedical research and therapeutic strategies.