Effects of Extremely Low Frequency Electromagnetic Fields on Stem Cells are not Caused by Zinc Ions

For non-invasive intervention methods, magnetic field applications have recently become popular, due to their undisturbed tissue permeability. Despite the fact that extremely low frequency magnetic fields were shown to have substantial effects, lack of explanation for the mechanism prevents their use. Efforts for revealing a mechanism showed that magnetic field exposure increases EGFR phosphorylation and intracellular calcium levels. However, studies investigating intracellular calcium levels used non-specific probes and have actually showed an increase in total divalent cation levels. Moreover, magnetic field activated pathways have zinc binding metalloproteases in their upstream processes, which have never been studied. These clues point to a substantial role of zinc in these effects. We show an increase of intracellular cation levels but this could not be tied to an increase in partial concentration of zinc ions. These results imply ELF EMF exposure to cause effects that are not regulated by zinc dependent pathways.