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Magnetically Stimulated Myogenesis Recruits a CRY2-TRPC1 Photosensitive Signaling Axis

Cells · 2025 · Benefit · Low evidence

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BenefitLow evidencePaper 109

Myoblast sensitivity to PEMF exposure and magnetic field directionality was lost when cells were grown in the dark. Under ambient light, CRY2 overexpression enhanced and CRY2 silencing reduced PEMF responses; RFK silencing (reducing FAD) attenuated PEMF respo…

Study snapshot

PublicationCells · 2025
Study typein_vitro
Reported directionBenefit
Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Magnetically Stimulated Myogenesis Recruits a CRY2-TRPC1 Photosensitive Signaling Axis Iversen JN, Tai YK, Wu KY, Wong CJK, Lim HY, Franco-Obregón A. Magnetically Stimulated Myogenesis Recruits a CRY2-TRPC1 Photosensitive Signaling Axis. Cells. 2025 Feb 6;14(3):231. doi: 10.3390/cells14030231. Abstract The cryptochromes are flavoproteins that either individually or synergistically respond to light and magnetic field directionality as well as are implicated in circadian rhythm entrainment and development. Single brief exposures (10 min) to low energy (1.5 mT) pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) were previously shown to enhance myogenesis by stimulating transient receptor potential canonical 1 (TRPC1)-mediated Ca2+ entry, whereby downwardly directed fields produced greater myogenic enhancement than upwardly directed fields. Here, we show that growth in the dark results in myoblasts losing their sensitivity to both magnetic field exposure and directionality. By contrast, overexpressing or silencing cryptochrome circadian regulator 2 (CRY2) in myoblasts enhances or reduces PEMF responses, respectively, under conditions of ambient light. Reducing cellular flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) content by silencing riboflavin kinase (RFK) attenuated responsiveness to PEMFs and inhibited selectivity for magnetic field direction. The upregulation of TRPC1 and cell cycle regulatory proteins typically observed in response to PEMF exposure was instead attenuated by upwardly directed magnetic fields, growth in the darkness, magnetic shielding, or the silencing of CRY2 or RFK. A physical interaction between CRY2 and TRPC1 was detected using coimmunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence, revealing their co-translocation into the nucleus after PEMF exposure. These results implicate CRY2 in an identified TRPC1-dependent magnetotransduction myogenic cascade. Open access paper: mdpi.com

Machine Enhanced Logic

AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typein_vitro
Effect directionbenefit
Populationmyoblasts (cell culture)
Sample sizeNot supplied
Exposuresingle brief exposures (10 min); field strength 1.5 mT; directionality (downward vs upward)
Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Myoblast sensitivity to PEMF exposure and magnetic field directionality was lost when cells were grown in the dark. Under ambient light, CRY2 overexpression enhanced and CRY2 silencing reduced PEMF responses; RFK silencing (reducing FAD) attenuated PEMF responsiveness and inhibited direction selectivity. Upregulation of TRPC1 and cell cycle regulatory proteins typically seen after PEMF exposure was attenuated by upwardly directed fields, darkness, magnetic shielding, or silencing of CRY2 or RFK, and CRY2 was found to physically interact with TRPC1 with nuclear co-translocation after PEMF exposure.

Outcomes measured

  • myogenesis
  • TRPC1-mediated Ca2+ entry
  • sensitivity to magnetic field exposure and directionality under dark vs ambient light conditions
  • effects of CRY2 overexpression or silencing on PEMF responses
  • effects of RFK silencing (reduced FAD) on PEMF responsiveness and direction selectivity
  • TRPC1 and cell cycle regulatory protein upregulation after PEMF exposure
  • CRY2–TRPC1 physical interaction and nuclear co-translocation after PEMF exposure

Limitations

  • In vitro (myoblast) model; findings may not generalize to humans or whole organisms
  • Frequency and waveform parameters of PEMF exposure not specified in the abstract
  • Sample size and quantitative effect estimates not reported in the abstract
View raw extracted JSON
{
  "study_type": "in_vitro",
  "exposure": {
    "band": null,
    "source": "pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs)",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "single brief exposures (10 min); field strength 1.5 mT; directionality (downward vs upward)"
  },
  "population": "myoblasts (cell culture)",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "myogenesis",
    "TRPC1-mediated Ca2+ entry",
    "sensitivity to magnetic field exposure and directionality under dark vs ambient light conditions",
    "effects of CRY2 overexpression or silencing on PEMF responses",
    "effects of RFK silencing (reduced FAD) on PEMF responsiveness and direction selectivity",
    "TRPC1 and cell cycle regulatory protein upregulation after PEMF exposure",
    "CRY2–TRPC1 physical interaction and nuclear co-translocation after PEMF exposure"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Myoblast sensitivity to PEMF exposure and magnetic field directionality was lost when cells were grown in the dark. Under ambient light, CRY2 overexpression enhanced and CRY2 silencing reduced PEMF responses; RFK silencing (reducing FAD) attenuated PEMF responsiveness and inhibited direction selectivity. Upregulation of TRPC1 and cell cycle regulatory proteins typically seen after PEMF exposure was attenuated by upwardly directed fields, darkness, magnetic shielding, or silencing of CRY2 or RFK, and CRY2 was found to physically interact with TRPC1 with nuclear co-translocation after PEMF exposure.",
  "effect_direction": "benefit",
  "limitations": [
    "In vitro (myoblast) model; findings may not generalize to humans or whole organisms",
    "Frequency and waveform parameters of PEMF exposure not specified in the abstract",
    "Sample size and quantitative effect estimates not reported in the abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "pulsed electromagnetic fields",
    "PEMF",
    "magnetic field directionality",
    "myogenesis",
    "myoblasts",
    "cryptochrome",
    "CRY2",
    "TRPC1",
    "calcium entry",
    "FAD",
    "riboflavin kinase",
    "RFK",
    "magnetotransduction",
    "light dependence"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "elf-emf",
      "weight": 0.55,
      "reason": "Study uses low-energy PEMFs described by field strength (mT) and examines biological effects in vitro."
    },
    {
      "slug": "mechanisms-magnetoreception",
      "weight": 0.7,
      "reason": "Focus on cryptochrome (CRY2), FAD, and magnetotransduction mechanisms with directionality and light dependence."
    }
  ]
}
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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.3390/cells14030231
PubMed: Not supplied

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