Effects of extremely low-frequency magnetic fields on human MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells: proteomic characterization

Ecotoxicology and environmental safety · 2023 · Harm · Low evidence

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HarmLow evidencePaper 571

Study snapshot

PublicationEcotoxicology and environmental safety · 2023

Study typein_vitro

Reported directionHarm

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Effects of extremely low-frequency magnetic fields on human MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells: proteomic characterization Lazzarini R, Eléxpuru-Zabaleta M, Piva F, Giulietti M, Fulgenzi G, Tartaglione MF, Zingaretti L, Tagliabracci A, Valentino M, Santarelli L, Bracci M. Effects of extremely low-frequency magnetic fields on human MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells: proteomic characterization. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2023 Feb 16;253:114650. doi: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.114650. Abstract Extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-MF) can modify the cell viability and regulatory processes of some cell types, including breast cancer cells. Breast cancer is a multifactorial disease where a role for ELF-MF cannot be excluded. ELF-MF may influence the biological properties of breast cells through molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways that are still unclear. This study analyzed the changes in the cell viability, cellular morphology, oxidative stress response and alteration of proteomic profile in breast cancer cells (MDA- MB-231) exposed to ELF-MF (50 Hz, 1 mT for 4 h). Non-tumorigenic human breast cells (MCF-10A) were used as control cells. Exposed MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells increased their viability and live cell number and showed a higher density and length of filopodia compared with the unexposed cells. In addition, ELF-MF induced an increase of the mitochondrial ROS levels and an alteration of mitochondrial morphology. Proteomic data analysis showed that ELF-MF altered the expression of 328 proteins in MDA-MB-231 cells and of 242 proteins in MCF-10A cells. Gene Ontology term enrichment analysis demonstrated that in both cell lines ELF-MF exposure up-regulated the genes enriched in "focal adhesion" and "mitochondrion". The ELF-MF exposure decreased the adhesive properties of MDA-MB-231 cells and increased the migration and invasion cell abilities. At the same time, proteomic analysis, confirmed by Real Time PCR, revealed that transcription factors associated with cellular reprogramming were upregulated in MDA-MB-231 cells and downregulated in MCF-10A cells after ELF- MF exposure. MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells exposed to 1 mT 50 Hz ELF-MF showed modifications in proteomic profile together with changes in cell viability, cellular morphology, oxidative stress response, adhesion, migration and invasion cell abilities. The main signaling pathways involved were relative to focal adhesion, mitochondrion and cellular reprogramming. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

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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 directionharm

PopulationHuman breast cancer cell line (MDA-MB-231) and non-tumorigenic human breast cells (MCF-10A)

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureELF · 0.05 MHz · 4 h

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

MDA-MB-231 cells exposed to 50 Hz, 1 mT ELF-MF for 4 h showed increased viability and live cell number, increased filopodia density/length, increased mitochondrial ROS and altered mitochondrial morphology. ELF-MF exposure altered expression of 328 proteins in MDA-MB-231 cells and 242 proteins in MCF-10A cells; GO enrichment indicated up-regulation of terms including "focal adhesion" and "mitochondrion" in both lines. In MDA-MB-231 cells, exposure decreased adhesive properties and increased migration and invasion abilities; transcription factors linked to cellular reprogramming were upregulated in MDA-MB-231 and downregulated in MCF-10A after exposure.

Outcomes measured

Cell viability
Live cell number
Cellular morphology (filopodia density/length)
Mitochondrial ROS levels
Mitochondrial morphology
Proteomic profile changes (differential protein expression)
Gene Ontology enrichment (focal adhesion, mitochondrion)
Cell adhesion properties
Cell migration ability
Cell invasion ability
Transcription factor expression associated with cellular reprogramming (proteomics, RT-PCR confirmation)

Limitations

In vitro cell-line study; findings may not translate to humans or clinical outcomes
Exposure conditions limited to 50 Hz, 1 mT, 4 h (single exposure scenario)
Sample size/replication not reported in abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "in_vitro",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": 0.05,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "4 h"
  },
  "population": "Human breast cancer cell line (MDA-MB-231) and non-tumorigenic human breast cells (MCF-10A)",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Cell viability",
    "Live cell number",
    "Cellular morphology (filopodia density/length)",
    "Mitochondrial ROS levels",
    "Mitochondrial morphology",
    "Proteomic profile changes (differential protein expression)",
    "Gene Ontology enrichment (focal adhesion, mitochondrion)",
    "Cell adhesion properties",
    "Cell migration ability",
    "Cell invasion ability",
    "Transcription factor expression associated with cellular reprogramming (proteomics, RT-PCR confirmation)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "MDA-MB-231 cells exposed to 50 Hz, 1 mT ELF-MF for 4 h showed increased viability and live cell number, increased filopodia density/length, increased mitochondrial ROS and altered mitochondrial morphology. ELF-MF exposure altered expression of 328 proteins in MDA-MB-231 cells and 242 proteins in MCF-10A cells; GO enrichment indicated up-regulation of terms including \"focal adhesion\" and \"mitochondrion\" in both lines. In MDA-MB-231 cells, exposure decreased adhesive properties and increased migration and invasion abilities; transcription factors linked to cellular reprogramming were upregulated in MDA-MB-231 and downregulated in MCF-10A after exposure.",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [
    "In vitro cell-line study; findings may not translate to humans or clinical outcomes",
    "Exposure conditions limited to 50 Hz, 1 mT, 4 h (single exposure scenario)",
    "Sample size/replication not reported in abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "extremely low-frequency magnetic fields",
    "ELF-MF",
    "50 Hz",
    "1 mT",
    "breast cancer",
    "MDA-MB-231",
    "MCF-10A",
    "proteomics",
    "mitochondrial ROS",
    "focal adhesion",
    "migration",
    "invasion",
    "cell viability",
    "cellular reprogramming"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "elf-emf",
      "weight": 0.95,
      "reason": "Study examines 50 Hz extremely low-frequency magnetic field exposure."
    },
    {
      "slug": "cancer-in-vitro",
      "weight": 0.85,
      "reason": "In vitro breast cancer cell line (MDA-MB-231) outcomes including viability, migration, invasion and proteomic changes."
    }
  ]
}

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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: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.114650
PubMed: 36805133

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