Exposure to a 50-Hz magnetic field induced mitochondrial permeability transition through the ROS/GSK-3β signaling pathway

Purpose To investigate the biological effects of a 50-Hz magnetic field (MF) on mitochondrial permeability.Materials and methods Human amniotic epithelial cells were exposed to MF (50Hz, 0.4mT) for different durations. Mitochondrial permeability, mitochondrial membrane potential (m), cytochrome c (Cyt-c) release and the related mechanisms were explored.Results Exposure to the MF at 0.4mT for 60min transiently induced mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT) and Cyt-c release, although there was no significant effect on mitochondrial membrane potential (m). Other than decreasing the total Bcl-2 associated X protein (Bax) level, MF exposure did not significantly affect the levels of Bax and B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) in mitochondria. In addition, cells exposed to the MF showed increased intracellular reactive oxidative species (ROS) levels and glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) dephosphorylation at 9 serine residue (Ser(9)). Moreover, the MF-induced MPT was attenuated by ROS scavenger (N-acetyl-L-cysteine, NAC) or GSK-3 inhibitor, and NAC pretreatment prevented GSK-3 dephosphorylation (Ser(9)) caused by MF exposure.Conclusion MPT induced by MF exposure was mediated through the ROS/GSK-3 signaling pathway.