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ELF magnetic fields induce internalization of gap junction protein connexin 43 in Chinese hamster lung cells
Author(s) -
Zeng Q.L.,
Chiang H.,
Hu G.L.,
Mao G.G.,
Fu Y.T.,
Lu D.Q.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
bioelectromagnetics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.435
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1521-186X
pISSN - 0197-8462
DOI - 10.1002/bem.10070
Subject(s) - connexin , internalization , chinese hamster , gap junction , microbiology and biotechnology , hamster , chemistry , biology , cell culture , cell , biochemistry , genetics , intracellular
Abstract We have previously demonstrated that exposure of Chinese hamster lung (CHL) cells to 50 Hz magnetic fields (MFs) and/or 12‐ O ‐tetradecanoylphorbol‐3‐acetate (TPA)‐inhibited gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC). To explore and compare the mechanisms of GJIC inhibition induced by extremely low frequency (ELF) MF and TPA, the number and localization of connexin 43 (Cx43) were studied. The localization of Cx43 was determined with indirect immunofluorescence histochemical analysis and detected by confocal microscopy after exposing CHL cells to 50 Hz sinusoidal magnetic field at 0.8 mT for 24 h without or with TPA (5 ng/ml) for the last 1 h. The Cx43 levels in nuclei and in cytoplasm were examined by Western blotting analysis. The results showed that the cells exposed to MF and/or TPA displayed individual plaques at regions of intercellular contact, which were fewer than the normal cells in number, while the number of Cx43 in cytoplasm increased and congregated near the nuclei. Western blot analysis further demonstrated the quantity of changes in location of Cx43. These results suggest that reduction of Cx43 at regions of intercellular contact may be one of the mechanisms of GJIC inhibition induced by ELF MF. Bioelectromagnetics 24:134–138, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.