Background
Extremely low-frequency magnetic field (ELF-MF) significantly induces apoptosis in cancer cells. To study the biological effects of the ELF-MF on tumor cells, we have designed and constructed a new exposure system that provides a uniform magnetic field with negligible temperature fluctuations during the exposure. Additionally, it provides ideal physiological conditions for live cells inside the incubator. This ELF-MF exposure system eliminates several limitations and disadvantages of other low frequency magnetic field systems; it generates a magnetic field with a frequency of 0 to 70 Hz with a maximum magnetic flux density of 150 mT.
Methods
The capabilities of the setup were examined using a 1 Hz, 100 mT magnetic field, at various exposure times, to induce apoptosis-mediated cell death in the MC4-L2 cell line. After exposure, apoptosis was assessed by flow cytometry.
Results
A biphasic response was observed in cells exposed to ELF-MF: at first a decreasing apoptotic rate during 2-12 hours exposure time was detected, after which apoptosis gradually increased during 24-120 hours of exposure.
Conclusions
We show that ELF-MF exposure with a frequency of 1 Hz and intensity of 100 mT induces apoptosis in MC4-L2 cancer cells in a time-dependent manner. These results show the significance of the long term studies of the ELF exposure effects.