1Hz 100mT Electromagnetic Field Induces Apoptosis in Breast Cancer Cells Through Up-Regulation of P38 and P21

Introduction: Breast cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related death among women. Recently, extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field (ELF-EMF) has been proposed as a new interfering agent with future therapeutic potentials. Many studies have revealed that cellular processes such as apoptosis in breast cancer are affected by ELF-EMFs. However, more researches are needed to clarify the underlying mechanism of action for these fields. In this study, the apoptotic effect of ELF-EMF on the MC4L2 cell line was examined and the mRNA expression level of the P21 and P38 genes were further investigated. Methods: A triple-positive mouse breast cancer cell line (MC4L2) was purchased from the Genetic Resource Center (Iran). This study was performed on two groups of ELF-EMF exposure (100mT/1 Hz for 5 days, 120 min each day) and sham exposure. Cell viability and apoptosis rate of both the exposure and sham exposure groups weredetermined by flow cytometry. Alterations in the P21 and P38 mRNAs expression levelswere investigated; using real-time PCR. Results: ELF-EMF exposure induced 30% apoptosis in MC4L2 cells compared with the control group. The mRNA expression level of P38 and P21 was significantly increased after ELF-EMF exposure compared to the control group. Conclusions: ELF-EMF induces apoptosis in the MC4L2 triple-positive cell line. Furthermore, this exposure affects important gene expression involved in the cell cycle. Our data propose that ELF-EMF in a specific time, intensity and frequency could be beneficial for breast cancer treatment. However, more studies are required to confirm our findings.