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Advances in the Molecular Biological Effects of Magnetic Fields
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Advances in the Molecular Biological Effects of Magnetic Fields

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Biology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2025 | Viewed by 12946

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Viacheslav V. Krylov

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Papanin Institute for Biology of Inland Waters, Russian Academy of Sciences, 152742 Borok, Russia
Interests: magnetobiology; early development of fish; animal behavior; zebrafish; cryptochrome; cyrcadian rhythms

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues, 

The biological effects of magnetic fields are evident in various species, from bacteria to humans. There are reasons to believe that cryptochromes are the primary molecular receptors for perceiving magnetic fields via the radical-pair mechanism. At the same time, the pathways of transforming the magnetic influence from the cryptochromes to the effects at higher levels of biological organization remain obscure. It is possible that the perception of magnetic fields is not limited by cryptochrome-based magnetoreception. Other primary targets and pathways may be responsible for the influence of magnetic fields on organisms. 

This Special Issue aims to provide a platform for research on the molecular biological effects of magnetic fields, considering the molecular mechanisms of the perception and pathways responsible for these effects. We welcome submissions of original papers and reviews based on results from molecular viewpoints.

Dr. Viacheslav V. Krylov
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

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Keywords

  • magnetoreception
  • magnetoperception
  • alternating magnetic field
  • static magnetic field
  • hypomagnetic field
  • cryptochrome
  • radical-pair mechanism
  • zebrafish
  • Aquatic Species

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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19 pages, 3353 KiB  
Article
Extremely Low-Frequency Electromagnetic Field (ELF-EMF) Increases Mitochondrial Electron Transport Chain Activities and Ameliorates Depressive Behaviors in Mice
by Masaki Teranishi, Mikako Ito, Zhizhou Huang, Yuki Nishiyama, Akio Masuda, Hiroyuki Mino, Masako Tachibana, Toshiya Inada and Kinji Ohno
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(20), 11315; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms252011315 - 21 Oct 2024
Viewed by 1187
Abstract
Compromised mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) activities are associated with depression in humans and rodents. However, the effects of the enhancement of mitochondrial ETC activities on depression remain elusive. We recently reported that an extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field (ELF-EMF) of as low as [...] Read more.
Compromised mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) activities are associated with depression in humans and rodents. However, the effects of the enhancement of mitochondrial ETC activities on depression remain elusive. We recently reported that an extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field (ELF-EMF) of as low as 10 μT induced hormetic activation of mitochondrial ETC complexes in human/mouse cultured cells and mouse livers. Chronic social defeat stress (CSDS) for 10 consecutive days caused behavioral defects mimicking depression in mice, and using an ELF-EMF for two to six weeks ameliorated them. CSDS variably decreased the mitochondrial ETC proteins in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) in 10 days, which were increased by an ELF-EMF in six weeks. CSDS had no effect on the mitochondrial oxygen consumption rate in the PFC in 10 days, but using an ELF-EMF for six weeks enhanced it. CSDS inactivated SOD2 by enhancing its acetylation and increased lipid peroxidation in the PFC. In contrast, the ELF-EMF activated the Sirt3-FoxO3a-SOD2 pathway and suppressed lipid peroxidation. Furthermore, CSDS increased markers for mitophagy, which was suppressed by the ELF-EMF in six weeks. The ELF-EMF exerted beneficial hormetic effects on mitochondrial energy production, mitochondrial antioxidation, and mitochondrial dynamics in a mouse model of depression. We envisage that an ELF-EMF is a promising therapeutic option for depression. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Molecular Biological Effects of Magnetic Fields)
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15 pages, 1853 KiB  
Article
The Effect of Extremely Low-Frequency Electromagnetic Fields on Inflammation and Performance-Related Indices in Trained Athletes: A Double-Blinded Crossover Study
by Irit Markus, Evyatar Ohayon, Keren Constantini, Keren Geva-Kleinberger, Rawan Ibrahim, Angela Ruban and Yftach Gepner
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(17), 13463; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241713463 - 30 Aug 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1663
Abstract
Previous investigations have demonstrated the therapeutic advantages of extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMFs) in mitigating inflammation and influencing biological processes. We aimed to shed light on the effects of ELF-EMF on recovery rate following high-intensity exercise. Nine male athletes (26.7 ± 6.0 years; [...] Read more.
Previous investigations have demonstrated the therapeutic advantages of extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMFs) in mitigating inflammation and influencing biological processes. We aimed to shed light on the effects of ELF-EMF on recovery rate following high-intensity exercise. Nine male athletes (26.7 ± 6.0 years; 69.6 ± 7.7 kg, VO2peak 57.3 ± 6.8 mL/kg/min) completed five visits in a double-blinded crossover design, performing two consecutive testing days, following a ventilatory thresholds assessment. Following 62 min of high-intensity cycling, participants lay on an ELF-EMF mattress under active (A) and non-active (NA) conditions, immediately post protocol and during the night. Physical performance and blood markers were assessed at baseline and at 60 min (60 P) and 24 h (24 H) post-protocol. The A-condition demonstrated a notable reduction in interleukin-10 (IL-10) concentrations (mean difference = −88%, p = 0.032) and maximal isometric strength of the quadriceps muscles (mean difference = ~8%, p = 0.045) compared to the NA-condition between 60 P and 24 H. In a sensitivity analysis, the A-condition revealed that younger athletes who possessed lower fat mass experienced attenuated inflammation and biochemical responses and improved physical performance. In conclusion, ELF-EMF showed no significant overall effects on performance and inflammation after intense cycling among athletes. Post-hoc analysis revealed modest benefits of ELF-MLF, suggesting a context-dependent impact. Further research with a larger sample size and multiple sessions is needed to confirm the recovery potential of ELF-EMF. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Molecular Biological Effects of Magnetic Fields)
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13 pages, 2409 KiB  
Article
Probing Transcriptional Crosstalk between Cryptochromes and Iron-sulfur Cluster Assembly 1 (MagR) in the Magnetoresponse of a Migratory Insect
by Yuning Zhang, Ying Zhang, Jingyu Zhao, Jinglan He, Zongjin Xuanyuan, Weidong Pan, Gregory A. Sword, Fajun Chen and Guijun Wan
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(13), 11101; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241311101 - 5 Jul 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1745
Abstract
Many organisms can sense and respond to magnetic fields (MFs), with migratory species in particular utilizing geomagnetic field information for long-distance migration. Cryptochrome proteins (Crys) along with a highly conserved Iron-sulfur cluster assembly protein (i.e., MagR) have garnered significant attention for their involvement [...] Read more.
Many organisms can sense and respond to magnetic fields (MFs), with migratory species in particular utilizing geomagnetic field information for long-distance migration. Cryptochrome proteins (Crys) along with a highly conserved Iron-sulfur cluster assembly protein (i.e., MagR) have garnered significant attention for their involvement in magnetoresponse (including magnetoreception). However, in vivo investigations of potential transcriptional crosstalk between Crys and MagR genes have been limited. The brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens, is a major migratory pest insect and an emerging model for studying MF intensity-related magnetoresponse. Here, we explored in vivo transcriptional crosstalk between Crys (Cry1 and Cry2) and MagR in N. lugens. The expression of Crys and MagR were found to be sensitive to MF intensity changes as small as several micro-teslas. Knocking down MagR expression led to a significant downregulation of Cry1, but not Cry2. The knockdown of either Cry1 or Cry2 individually did not significantly affect MagR expression. However, their double knockdown resulted in significant upregulation of MagR. Our findings clearly indicate transcriptional crosstalk between MagR and Crys known to be involved in magnetoresponse. This work advances the understanding of magnetoresponse signaling and represents a key initial step towards elucidating the functional consequences of these novel in vivo interactions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Molecular Biological Effects of Magnetic Fields)
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12 pages, 4143 KiB  
Article
Reduction of Osteoclastic Differentiation of Raw 264.7 Cells by EMF Exposure through TRPV4 and p-CREB Pathway
by Myeong-Hyun Nam, Hee-Jung Park and Young-Kwon Seo
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(4), 3058; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24043058 - 4 Feb 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3163
Abstract
In this study, we investigated the effect of EMF exposure on the regulation of RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation in Raw 264.7 cells. In the EMF-exposed group, the cell volume did not increase despite RANKL treatment, and the expression levels of Caspase-3 remained much lower [...] Read more.
In this study, we investigated the effect of EMF exposure on the regulation of RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation in Raw 264.7 cells. In the EMF-exposed group, the cell volume did not increase despite RANKL treatment, and the expression levels of Caspase-3 remained much lower than those in the RANKL-treated group. TRAP and F-actin staining revealed smaller actin rings in cells exposed to EMF during RANKL-induced differentiation, indicating that EMF inhibited osteoclast differentiation. EMF-irradiated cells exhibited reduced mRNA levels of osteoclastic differentiation markers cathepsin K (CTSK), tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9). Furthermore, as measured by RT-qPCR and Western blot, EMF induced no changes in the levels of p-ERK and p-38; however, it reduced the levels of TRPV4 and p-CREB. Overall, our findings indicate that EMF irradiation inhibits osteoclast differentiation through the TRPV4 and p-CREB pathway. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Molecular Biological Effects of Magnetic Fields)
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10 pages, 1162 KiB  
Article
Influence of Calcium Resonance-Tuned Low-Frequency Magnetic Fields on Daphnia magna
by Viacheslav V. Krylov, Galina A. Papchenkova and Irina L. Golovanova
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(24), 15727; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms232415727 - 11 Dec 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1860
Abstract
A biophysical model for calculating the effective parameters of low-frequency magnetic fields was developed by Lednev based on summarized empirical data. According to this model, calcium ions as enzyme cofactors can be the primary target of low-frequency magnetic fields with different parameters tuned [...] Read more.
A biophysical model for calculating the effective parameters of low-frequency magnetic fields was developed by Lednev based on summarized empirical data. According to this model, calcium ions as enzyme cofactors can be the primary target of low-frequency magnetic fields with different parameters tuned to calcium resonance. However, the effects of calcium-resonant combinations of static and alternating magnetic fields that correspond to Lednev’s model and differ by order in frequency and intensity were not studied. It does not allow for confidently discussing the primary targets of low-frequency magnetic fields in terms of the magnetic influence on ions-enzyme cofactors. To clarify this issue, we examined the response of freshwater crustaceans Daphnia magna to the impact of combinations of magnetic fields targeted to calcium ions in enzymes according to Lednev’s model that differ in order of magnitude. Life-history traits and biochemical parameters were evaluated. Exposure of daphnids to both combinations of magnetic fields led to a long-term delay of the first brood release, an increase in the brood size, a decrease in the number of broods, and the period between broods. The amylolytic activity, proteolytic activity, and sucrase activity significantly decreased in whole-body homogenates of crustaceans in response to both combinations of magnetic fields. The similarity in the sets of revealed effects assumes that different magnetic fields tuned to calcium ions in biomolecules can affect the same primary molecular target. The results suggest that the low-frequency magnetic fields with parameters corresponding to Lednev’s model of interaction between biological molecules and ions can remain effective with a significant decrease in the static magnetic background. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Molecular Biological Effects of Magnetic Fields)
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Review

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14 pages, 1322 KiB  
Review
Molecular Biological Effects of Weak Low-Frequency Magnetic Fields: Frequency–Amplitude Efficiency Windows and Possible Mechanisms
by Viacheslav V. Krylov and Elena A. Osipova
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(13), 10989; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241310989 - 1 Jul 2023
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2174
Abstract
This review covers the phenomenon of resonance-like responses of biological systems to low-frequency magnetic fields (LFMF). The historical development of this branch of magnetobiology, including the most notable biophysical models that explain the resonance-like responses of biological systems to LFMF with a specific [...] Read more.
This review covers the phenomenon of resonance-like responses of biological systems to low-frequency magnetic fields (LFMF). The historical development of this branch of magnetobiology, including the most notable biophysical models that explain the resonance-like responses of biological systems to LFMF with a specific frequency and amplitude, is given. Two groups can be distinguished among these models: one considers ion-cofactors of proteins as the primary targets for the LFMF influence, and the other regards the magnetic moments of particles in biomolecules. Attention is paid to the dependence of resonance-like LFMF effects on the cell type. A radical-pair mechanism of the magnetic field’s influence on biochemical processes is described with the example of cryptochrome. Conditions for this mechanism’s applicability to explain the biological effects of LFMF are given. A model of the influence of LFMF on radical pairs in biochemical oscillators, which can explain the frequency–amplitude efficiency windows of LFMF, is proposed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Molecular Biological Effects of Magnetic Fields)
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