Modulation of redox status and calcium handling by extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields in C2C12 muscle cells: A real-time, single-cell approach

• Published in: Free radical biology & medicine Vol. 48; no. 4; pp. 579 - 589
• Main Authors: Morabito, Caterina, Rovetta, Francesca, Bizzarri, Mariano, Mazzoleni, Giovanna, Fanò, Giorgio, Mariggiò, Maria A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 15-02-2010
• Subjects: Animals; Antioxidants - metabolism; C2C12 cells; Calcium - metabolism; Cell Differentiation; Electromagnetic Fields; ELF electromagnetic fields; Free radicals; Intracellular Ca 2; Malondialdehyde - pharmacology; Membrane Potentials; Mice; Mitochondria - metabolism; Muscle, Skeletal - metabolism; Muscles - pathology; Muscles - radiation effects; Myogenesis; Oxidation-Reduction; Oxidative Stress; Reactive Oxygen Species; ROS; Signal Transduction; Free radicals; DCF; GM; DM; H 2DCF-DA; EDTA; C2C12 cells; ELF electromagnetic fields; GPx; Myogenesis; EGTA; NAC; TEAC; ROS; Intracellular Ca 2; NES; ELF-EMF; JC-1
• ISSN: 0891-5849; 1873-4596
• DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2009.12.005

The biological effects of electric and magnetic fields, which are ubiquitous in modern society, remain poorly understood. Here, we applied a single-cell approach to study the effects of short-term exposure to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMFs) on muscle cell differentiation and function using C2C12 cells as an in vitro model of the skeletal muscle phenotype. Our focus was on markers of oxidative stress and calcium (Ca
2+) handling, two interrelated cellular processes previously shown to be affected by such radiation in other cell models. Collectively, our data reveal that ELF-EMFs (1) induced reactive oxygen species production in myoblasts and myotubes with a concomitant decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential; (2) activated the cellular detoxification system, increasing catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities; and (3) altered intracellular Ca
2+homeostasis, increasing the spontaneous activity of myotubes and enhancing cellular reactivity to a depolarizing agent (KCl) or an agonist (caffeine) of intracellular store Ca
2+channels. In conclusion, our data support a possible link between exposure to ELF-EMFs and modification of the cellular redox state, which could, in turn, increase the level of intracellular Ca
2+and thus modulate the metabolic activity of C2C12 cells.