Static Magnetic Stimulation Induces Cell-type Specific Alterations in the Viability of SH-SY5Y Neuroblastoma Cell Line

Abstract

Background/Aim: Magnetic stimulation is used in the treatment of a diversity of diseases, but a complete understanding of the underlying mechanisms of action requires further investigation. We examined the effect of static magnetic stimulation (SMS) in different cell lines. Materials and Methods: A culture plate holder with attached NeFeB magnets was developed. Different magnetic field intensities and periods were tested in tumoral and nontumoral cell lines. To verify the cellular responses to SMS, cell viability, cell death, cell cycle and BDNF expression were evaluated. Results: Exposure of SH-SY5Y cells to SMS for 24 hours led to a decrease in cell viability. Analysis 24 h after stimulation revealed a decrease in apoptotic and double-positive cells, associated with an increase in the number of necrotic cells. Conclusion: The effects of SMS on cell viability are cell type-specific, inducing a decrease in cell viability in SH-SY5Y cells. This suggests that SMS may be a potential tool in the treatment of neuronal tumors.Over the years, several electrophysiological studies have expanded the understanding of normal brain activity and its pathological conditions. Technological advances have been an important part of the improvement of therapies and research in several areas such as neurology, psychology, and psychiatry (1). Brain stimulation is a tool for modulating brain function, allowing the association of activity patterns and cognitive function to establish cause-consequence relations (2). Brain stimulation techniques are usually divided into two different types: invasive and non-invasive (NIBS) techniques. Whereas invasive techniques involve greater risk for patients, as demonstrated by studies that compare the impact of different procedures (3, 4), noninvasive techniques have shown favorable results together with lower risks (3, 5). Indeed, NIBS's application has been described in different scenarios: 1. Cognitive improvement on depression (6, 7); 2. Improvement in post-stroke recovery (8); 3. Improvement of the memory and the quality of life of patients with Alzheimer's disease (9, 10); 4. Relief of 5151