KINETICS OF GENE-EXPRESSION FOLLOWING EXPOSURE TO 60 HZ, 2 MT MAGNETIC-FIELDS IN 3 HUMAN CELL-LINES

Laboratory reports on gene expression following magnetic field exposur e have been controversial, although the weight of evidence suggests no effect of magnetic fields. We searched for changes in gene expression , including possible delayed expression, using a higher flux density a nd longer exposure duration than have been investigated in previous st udies that yielded negative results. RNA was extracted from MCF7 WT, H eLa S3, and A172 cells 0, 1, 3, 24 and 48 h after 60 Hz magnetic field exposure at 2 mT lasting for 24 h. Northern analysis was performed fo r c-myc, c-fos, beta-actin, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase ( GAPDH), and for Csa-19, a recently discovered gene down-regulated in v itro by X-irradiation but probably not connected with signal transduct ion pathways or dependent on cellular p53 status. No statistically sig nificant effect of the magnetic field was seen under all conditions te sted. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science S.A.