Gene Expression of Cytokine Receptors in HL60 Cells Exposed to a 50 Hz Magnetic Field

The effects of a 50 Hz extremely low frequency (ELF) sinusoidal magnetic field (MF) on the expression of genes relating to cytokine receptors were studied in HL60 cells. Transcription levels of tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) p55 and p75, interleukin-6 receptor-α (IL-6Rα) and transforming growth factor-β receptor 1 (TGFβR1) were quantified in cells exposed to an intensity of 0.1 or 0.8 mT for periods ranging from 30 min to 72 h. Cells treated with 10 nM of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) for 8 h served as a positive control. Gene expression values were assessed by the ribonuclease protection assay (RPA) and normalized to those of the noninducible gene GAPDH. The results showed that MF exposure at 0.1 and 0.8 mT for 72 h increased TNFR p75 and IL-6Rα mRNA expression in HL60 cells. No significant change in gene expression levels of TNFR p55 and TGFβR1 was observed under any of the exposure conditions. In addition, we report here for the first time that IL-6Rα mRNA expression can be suppressed by PMA in HL60 cells.