Weak power frequency magnetic fields induce microtubule cytoskeleton reorganization depending on the epidermal growth factor receptor and the calcium related signaling.

We have shown previously that a weak 50 Hz magnetic field (MF) invoked the actin-cytoskeleton, and provoked cell migration at the cell level, probably through activating the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) related motility pathways. However, whether the MF also affects the microtubule (MT)-cytoskeleton is still unknown. In this article, we continuously investigate the effects of 0.4 mT, 50 Hz MF on the MT, and try to understand if the MT effects are also associated with the EGFR pathway as the actin-cytoskeleton effects were. Our results strongly suggest that the MF effects are similar to that of EGF stimulation on the MT cytoskeleton, showing that 1) the MF suppressed MT in multiple cell types including PC12 and FL; 2) the MF promoted the clustering of the EGFR at the protein and the cell levels, in a similar way of that EGF did but with higher sensitivity to PD153035 inhibition, and triggered EGFR phosphorylation on sites of Y1173 and S1046/1047; 3) these effects were strongly depending on the Ca2+ signaling through the L-type calcium channel (LTCC) phosphorylation and elevation of the intracellular Ca2+ level. Strong associations were observed between EGFR and the Ca2+ signaling to regulate the MF-induced-reorganization of the cytoskeleton network, via phosphorylating the signaling proteins in the two pathways, including a significant MT protein, tau. These results strongly suggest that the MF activates the overall cytoskeleton in the absence of EGF, through a mechanism related to both the EGFR and the LTCC/Ca2+ signaling pathways.

Developmental and cancer-associated plasticity of DNA replication preferentially targets GC-poor, lowly expressed and late-replicating regions.

The spatiotemporal program of metazoan DNA replication is regulated during development and altered in cancers. We have generated novel OK-seq, Repli-seq and RNA-seq data to compare the DNA replication and gene expression programs of twelve cancer and non-cancer human cell types. Changes in replication fork directionality (RFD) determined by OK-seq are widespread but more frequent within GC-poor isochores and largely disconnected from transcription changes. Cancer cell RFD profiles cluster with non-cancer cells of similar developmental origin but not with different cancer types. Importantly, recurrent RFD changes are detected in specific tumour progression pathways. Using a model for establishment and early progression of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), we identify 1027 replication initiation zones (IZs) that progressively change efficiency during long-term expression of the BCR-ABL1 oncogene, being twice more often downregulated than upregulated. Prolonged expression of BCR-ABL1 results in targeting of new IZs and accentuation of previous efficiency changes. Targeted IZs are predominantly located in GC-poor, late replicating gene deserts and frequently silenced in late CML. Prolonged expression of BCR-ABL1 results in massive deletion of GC-poor, late replicating DNA sequences enriched in origin silencing events. We conclude that BCR-ABL1 expression progressively affects replication and stability of GC-poor, late-replicating regions during CML progression.

Exposure to 50Hz-sinusoidal electromagnetic field induces DNA damage-independent autophagy.

As electromagnetic field (EMF) is commonly encountered within our daily lives, the biological effects of EMF are of great concern. Autophagy is a key process for maintaining cellular homeostasis, and it can also reveal cellular responses to environmental stimuli. In this study, we aim to investigate the biological effects of a 50Hz-sinusoidal electromagnetic field on autophagy and we identified its mechanism of action in Chinese Hamster Lung (CHL) cells. CHL cells were exposed to a 50Hz sinusoidal EMF at 0.4mT for 30min or 24h. In this study, we found that a 0.4mT EMF resulted in: (i) an increase in LC3-II expression and increased autophagosome formation; (ii) no significant difference in the incidence of γH2AX foci between the sham and exposure groups; (iii) reorganized actin filaments and increased pseudopodial extensions without promoting cell migration; and (iv) enhanced cell apoptosis when autophagy was blocked by Bafilomycin A1. These results implied that DNA damage was not directly involved in the autophagy induced by a 0.4mT 50Hz EMF. In addition, an EMF induced autophagy balanced the cellular homeostasis to protect the cells from severe adverse biological consequences.

Extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields enhance the proliferation and differentiation of neural progenitor cells cultured from ischemic brains.

In the mammalian brain, neurogenesis persists throughout the embryonic period and adulthood in the subventricular zone of the lateral ventricle and the granular zone (dentate gyrus) of the hippocampus. Newborn neural progenitor cells (NPCs) in the two regions play a critical role in structural and functional plasticity and neural regeneration after brain injury. Previous studies have reported that extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF) could promote osteogenesis, angiogenesis, and cardiac stem cells' differentiation, which indicates that ELF-EMF might be an effective tool for regenerative therapy. The present studies were carried out to examine the effects of ELF-EMF on hippocampal NPCs cultured from embryonic and adult ischemic brains. We found that exposure to ELF-EMF (50 Hz, 0.4 mT) significantly enhanced the proliferation capability both in embryonic NPCs and in ischemic NPCs. Neuronal differentiation was also enhanced after 7 days of cumulative ELF-EMF exposure, whereas glial differentiation was not influenced markedly. The expression of phosphorylated Akt increased during the proliferation process when ischemic NPCs were exposed to ELF-EMF. However, blockage of the Akt pathway abolished the ELF-EMF-induced proliferation of ischemic NPCs. These data show that ELF-EMF promotes neurogenesis of ischemic NPCs and suggest that this effect may occur through the Akt pathway.Video abstract, Supplemental Digital Content 1, http://links.lww.com/WNR/A347.

Weak power frequency magnetic field acting similarly to EGF stimulation, induces acute activations of the EGFR sensitive actin cytoskeleton motility in human amniotic cells.

In this article, we have examined the motility-related effects of weak power frequency magnetic fields (MFs) on the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-sensitive motility mechanism, including the F-actin cytoskeleton, growth of invasive protrusions and the levels of signal molecules in human amniotic epithelial (FL) cells. Without extracellular EGF stimulation, the field stimulated a large growth of new protrusions, especially filopodia and lamellipodia, an increased population of vinculin-associated focal adhesions. And, an obvious reduction of stress fiber content in cell centers was found, corresponding to larger cell surface areas and decreased efficiency of actin assembly of FL cells in vitro, which was associated with a decrease in overall F-actin content and special distributions. These effects were also associated with changes in protein content or distribution patterns of the EGFR downstream motility-related signaling molecules. All of these effects are similar to those following epidermal growth factor (EGF) stimulation of the cells and are time dependent. These results suggest that power frequency MF exposure acutely affects the migration/motility-related actin cytoskeleton reorganization that is regulated by the EGFR-cytoskeleton signaling pathway. Therefore, upon the MF exposure, cells are likely altered to be ready to transfer into a state of migration in response to the stimuli.

[Effects of 50 Hz sinusoidal magnetic field on Ca2+ release channel ryanodine receptor of sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of sinusoidal magnetic field on isolated sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) calcium release channel (RyR1) function. METHODS: With the Ca2+ dynamic spectrum and isotope labeled methods, the Ca2+ release and [(3)H]-Ryanodine binding, the initial rates of NADH oxidation and the production of superoxide of SR exposed to 50 Hz sinusoidal magnetic field (MF) were investigated respectively. RESULTS: 0.4 mT, 50 Hz sinusoidal MF exposure for 30 min increased SR Ca2+ release initial rate about 35% from (10.82 +/- 0.89) pmol.mg(-1) pro.s(-1) to (14.69 +/- 1.21) pmol.mg(-1) pro.s(-1); and the [(3)H]-Ryanodine binding by about 15% from (2.13 +/- 0.05) pmol/mg pro to (2.45 +/- 0.07) pmol/mg pro, which regulated by 1 mmol/L NADH with 1 mmol/L NAD+. Meanwhile MF upregulated the rate of NADH oxidation by about 22% from (0.88 +/- 0.11) x 10(-4) FI/s to (1.07 +/- 0.13) x 10(-4) FI/s and upregulated the production of superoxide by about 32% from (0.99 +/- 0.09) x 10(-5) FI/s to (1.31 +/- 0.06) x 10(-5) FI/s. CONCLUSION: 0.4 mT sinusoidal MF increases the activity of RyR1 within the low redox potential environment, and promotes NADH oxidase activity and superoxide production.

Selenoprotein N is required for ryanodine receptor calcium release channel activity in human and zebrafish muscle.

Mutations affecting the seemingly unrelated gene products, SepN1, a selenoprotein of unknown function, and RyR1, the major component of the ryanodine receptor intracellular calcium release channel, result in an overlapping spectrum of congenital myopathies. To identify the immediate developmental and molecular roles of SepN and RyR in vivo, loss-of-function effects were analyzed in the zebrafish embryo. These studies demonstrate the two proteins are required for the same cellular differentiation events and are needed for normal calcium fluxes in the embryo. SepN is physically associated with RyRs and functions as a modifier of the RyR channel. In the absence of SepN, ryanodine receptors from zebrafish embryos or human diseased muscle have altered biochemical properties and have lost their normal sensitivity to redox conditions, which likely accounts for why mutations affecting either factor lead to similar diseases.

Non-thiol reagents regulate ryanodine receptor function by redox interactions that modify reactive thiols.

The Ca(2+) release channel (CRC) from sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) is rich in thiol groups, and their oxidation/- reduction by thiol reagents activates/inhibits the CRC. Most channel regulators are not thiol reagents, and the mechanism of their action is illusive. Here the authors show that many channel activators act as electron acceptors, while many channel inhibitors act as electron donors in free radical reactions. The channel activator, caffeine, and the CRC inhibitor, tetracaine, are shown to interact competitively, which suggests that there exists a common site(s) on the CRC, that integrates the donor/acceptor effects of ligands. Moreover, channel activators shift the redox potential of reactive thiols on the ryanodine receptor (RyR) to more negative values and decrease the number of reactive thiols, while channel inhibitors shift the redox potential to more positive values and increase the number of reactive thiols. These observations suggest that the non-thiol channel modulators shift the thiol-disulfide balance within CRC by transiently exchanging electrons with the Ca(2+) release protein.

EGF receptor clustering is induced by a 0.4 mT power frequency magnetic field and blocked by the EGF receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor PD153035.

Atomic force microscopy (AFM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and confocal laser scanning microscopy were used to investigate the effects of a 50 Hz 0.4 mT magnetic field (MF) on the clustering of purified epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFRs) and EGFRs in Chinese hamster lung (CHL) cell membrane. The results demonstrate that exposing purified EGFRs to the MF for 30 min induces receptor clustering. The peak height of apparent clusters increased from 1.42 +/- 0.18 (sham-exposed) to 3.08 +/- 0.38 nm (exposed) while the mean half-width increased from 21.7 +/- 2.2 to 33.0 +/- 4.0 nm. A similar effect was also observed by TEM. Treatment of purified EGFR with PD153035 (PD), an EGFR-specific tyrosine kinase (TK) inhibitor, inhibited the MF-induced EGFR clustering of the purified proteins, an effect also observed for the receptors in cell membrane in the absence of EGF. These results strongly suggest that the 50 Hz 0.4 mT MF interferes with the EGFR signaling pathway, most likely by interacting with the cytoplasmic TK domain.

[Effect of 50 Hz power frequency magnetic field on microfilament cytoskeleton assembly of human amnion FL cells].

OBJECTIVE: Investigations were carried out to understand the effect of 50 Hz power frequency magnetic field on microfilament assembly of human amniotic cells and on expression of actin and epidermal growth factor receptor. METHODS: Human amnion FL cells were exposed to 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5 mT power frequency magnetic field for 30 minutes. Microfilaments were marked using Phalloidin-TRITC, and then were observed under a fluorescence microscope. An optical method was used to detect the relative content of microfilament in cells. A scanning electron microscope was used to detect the cell shape. The content of actin and epidermal growth factor receptor in the preparation of the detergent-insoluble cytoskeleton were measured by western-blotting to analyse the potential mechanism of the change induced by magnetic field. RESULTS: Intracellular stress fibers were found to decrease after exposing cells to a 0.2 mT power frequency magnetic field for 30 minutes. New microfilament and filopodia bundles appeared at the cell periphery after exposure, but the detected total F-actin content per cell was not significantly changed, detected by a F-actin-specific dye. The change in the amount of microfilaments caused by the field could be recovered 2 hours later when the field was withdrawn. The mean height of microfilament cytoskeleton decreased from (12.37 +/- 1.28) microm to (9.97 +/- 0.38) microm (t = 6.96, P > 0.05) after exposure using a confocal microscope. The cell shapes became more flat and lamellipodia appeared after exposure observed by a scanning electron microscope. By using Western blotting method, the intracellular contents of epidermal growth factor receptor and of actin in the preparation of the detergent-insoluble cytoskeleton which are associated with high-affinity epidermal growth factor receptors, increased about (31.2 +/- 4.1)% (t = 17.10, P < 0.05) and (16.8 +/- 2.3)% (t = 16.68, P < 0.05) respectively, compared with that of the control. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that a short time exposure to a 0.2 mT power frequency magnetic field induces re-organization of microfilament in human amnion FL cells. These changes could be recovered by field withdraw and may have something with the clustering of epidermal growth factor receptors induced by magnetic field.

[Effects of power frequency magnetic field on Ca2+ transport of skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of power frequency magnetic field on the Ca2+ transport dynamics of isolated sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles. METHODS: The assays of Ca2+ uptake time course and the Ca2+-ATPase activity of sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles were investigated by using dynamic mode of spectrometry with a Ca2+ dye; Ca2+ release channel activation was examined by 3H-ryanodine binding and Ca2+ release assays; membrane fluidity of sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles was examined by fluorescence polarization, without or with exposure to the vesicles at a 0.4 mT, 50 Hz sinusoidal magnetic field. RESULTS: 0.4 mT, 50 Hz sinusoidal magnetic field exposure caused about a 16% decline of the initial Ca2+ uptake rate from a (29.18 +/- 3.90) pmol.mg(-1).s(-1) to a (24.60 +/- 3.81) pmol.mg(-1).s(-1) and a 26% decline of the Ca2+-ATPase activity from (0.93 +/- 0.05) micromol.mg(-1).min(-1) to (0.69 +/- 0.07) micromol.mg(-1).min(-1) of sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles, whereas caused a 15% increase of the initial Ca2+ release rate from (4.83 +/- 0.82) pmol.mg(-1).s(-1) to (5.65 +/- 0.43) pmol.mg(-1).s(-1) and a 5% increase in 3H-ryanodine binding to the receptor from (1.10 +/- 0.12) pmol/mg to (1.16 +/- 0.13) pmol/mg, respectively. CONCLUSION: The decline of Ca2+-ATPase activity and the increase of Ca2+ release channel activity should result in a down-regulation of Ca2+ dynamic uptake and an up-regulation of Ca2+ release induced by exposing the sarcoplasmic reticulum to a 0.4 mT, 50 Hz power frequency magnetic field.

Pulsed electric field exposure of insulin induces anti-proliferative effects on human hepatocytes.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects and the mechanism of a pulsed electric field (PEF) on insulin and its subsequent mediation of proliferative changes in human hepatocytes in vitro. The PEF, the electric field intensity coupled into the culture medium, was about 0.7 V/m with a repeating frequency of 50 Hz. Insulin solution was exposed to PEF for 20 min and added to the culture medium of human hepatocytes. Combining fluorescence spectroscopy, immunocytochemistry, microarrays, RT-PCR and MTT, several important events of the insulin signaling pathways were investigated, including ligand-receptor binding capacity, intracellular tyrosine phosphorylation level, gene transcription, and cell proliferation. PEF produced a conformational change of insulin molecule. The binding capacity of insulin to its receptors was reduced to 87% of the control level after PEF treatment, and the average intracellular tyrosine phosphorylation level decreased by 11%. The expression of 55 of 12,000 genes examined was modified, including an increase in the expression of human tyrosine phosphatase and the small GTP-binding protein. Based on these results, a mechanism is proposed to explain the bio-effects of PEF on hepatic cell proliferation through the insulin signaling pathway.

Selenium compounds modulate the calcium release channel/ryanodine receptor of rabbit skeletal muscle by oxidizing functional thiols.

Selenium compounds, such as sodium selenite and Ebselen were shown to increase high affinity ryanodine binding to the skeletal muscle type ryanodine receptor (RyR1) at nanomolar concentrations, and inhibit the receptor at low micromolar concentrations. This biphasic response was observed in both concentration and time-dependent assays. Extensive washing did not reverse either the stimulation or suppression of receptor binding, but both were prevented or reversed by addition of reduced glutathione, GSH. Selenium compounds were also shown to induce Ca(2+) release from the isolated sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles. Sodium selenite and Ebselen stimulated the skeletal muscle ryanodine receptor by oxidizing 14 of 47 free thiols per monomer on RyR1 (as detected with the alkylating agent 7-diethylamino-3-(4'-maleimidylphenyl)-4-methylcoumarin) (CPM). Oxidation of the remaining thiols by these selenium compounds resulted in inhibition of the ryanodine receptor.

[Raman analysis of conformation changes of insulin solvent after being exposed to ELF pulsed electric field].

Raman spectra of insulin solvents are presented before and after being exposed to the pulsed electric field with extremely low frequency 50 Hz (ELF). The covalences of the molecule were not affected and the changes of some secondary bonds such as hydrogen bonds and salt bonds were observed. Detailed analysis of these spectra indicates that the alpha-helix of insulin molecule was destroyed after the exposure, which is proved by the shift of the peak of the amide I region toward higher wave number and by the appearance of several new peaks: 1561 and 1594 cm(-1). The disulfides were affected by the weaken alpha-helix, and their vibrational modes were changed. Meanwhile the hydrogen bonding between the dimer are broken down which leads to the increase in the peak intensities at 1002 and at 1602 cm(-1).

Effect of intermittent and continuous hypoxia on ryanodine receptors of rat heart.

Intermittent hypoxia (IH) adaptation has been shown to exert beneficial effects on the functions of hearts that had been subjected to insult by ischemia or ischemia/reperfusion. To understand whether calcium release channels/ryanodine receptors (RyRs) were involved, the effects of IH and continuous hypoxia (CH) on [3H]ryanodine binding to homogenates of rat hearts were investigated. Similar studies were performed on rat skeletal muscle. The main results on cardiac muscle were as follows: 1) Ischemia for up to 45 min in normal rat hearts had no obvious effect on the equilibrium ryanodine binding constant (K(d)), while the maximum number of ryanodine binding sites (B(max)) was affected in a time-dependent manner. B(max) was significantly increased with 15 min ischemia, which then returned to control levels upon prolonging the ischemia to 30 min. After 45 min ischemia, a small decrease of B(max) was observed. 2) IH adaptation for up to 28 days did not change B(max), but a significant decrease of B(max) was apparent after longer IH adaptation or after CH exposure. Although B(max) was not altered by 30 min ischemia, 30 min reperfusion following 30 min ischemia induced an evident decrease of B(max). After either IH or CH adaptation, the ischemia/reperfusion- induced decrease of B(max) was abolished. 3) Several effects on K(d) of ischemia and ischemia/reperfusion, with and without IH or CH adaptation, were observed. The most distinct and consistent finding was that a clear increase of K(d) was induced by ischemia or ischemia/reperfusion in CH adapted rats. [3H]Ryanodine binding to homogenates of rat skeletal muscle was also affected by IH and CH adaptation. In contrast to that found in cardiac muscle, a decrease of B(max) in skeletal muscle appeared only after CH adaptation. The physiological significance of these effects is discussed.

Modulation of the interactions of isolated ryanodine receptors of rabbit skeletal muscle by Na+ and K+.

Ryanodine receptors (RyRs) of skeletal muscle, as calcium release channels, have been found to form semicrystalline arrays in the membrane of sarcoplasmic reticulum. Recently, both experimental observations and theoretical simulations suggested cooperative coupling within interlocking RyRs. To better understand the interactions between RyRs and their modulation, the aggregation and dissociation of isolated RyRs in aqueous medium containing various Na(+) and K(+) concentrations were investigated using photon correlation spectroscopy (PCS) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). RyRs aggregated readily at low salt concentrations. However, a different behavior was observed in the presence of Na(+) or K(+). Detectable aggregates were formed in 5 microg/mL RyR sample when the concentration of Na(+) and K(+) was reduced from 1 M to below 0.28 and 0.23 M, respectively. The dissociation of RyR aggregates was also examined when raising the salt concentration. While aggregates formed in 0.15 M NaCl medium could reverse almost completely, those formed in 0.15 M KCl medium only dissolved partly. When keeping the total salt concentration at 0.15 M, the aggregation and dissociation of RyRs were seen to evidently depend on the relative concentration of Na(+) and K(+). The interaction between RyRs was strengthened with increasing Na(+)/K(+) ratios in the mixed medium. Accompanying this, a decrease of [(3)H]ryanodine binding occurred. The results obtained with PCS and AFM provide further evidence for the interaction between RyRs and suggest the importance of Na(+), K(+), and their relative composition in modulating the interaction and cooperation between RyRs in vivo.

Skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum contains a NADH-dependent oxidase that generates superoxide.

Skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) is shown to contain an NADH-dependent oxidase (NOX) that reduces molecular oxygen to generate superoxide. Its activity is coupled to an activation of the Ca2+ release mechanism, as evident by stimulation in the rate of high-affinity ryanodine binding. NOX activity, coupled to the production of superoxide, is not derived from the mitochondria but is SR in origin. The SR preparation also contains a significant NADH oxidase activity, which is not coupled to the production of superoxide and appears to be mitochondrial in origin. This mitochondrial component is preferentially associated with the terminal cisternae region of the SR. Its activity is inhibited by diphenylene iodonium (10 microM), antimycin A (200 nM), and rotenone (40 nM) but is not coupled to the generation of superoxide or the stimulation of the ryanodine receptor. The rate of superoxide production per milligram of protein is larger in SR than in mitochondria. This NOX may be a major source of oxidative stress in muscle.