Static magnetic field sensitivity of endothelial cells.

In this manuscript, data demonstrating the magnetic sensitivity of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) is presented. The effects of low level fields (LLF; 0.2-1 µT), 30 and 120 µT magnetic fields on the proliferation of endothelial cells were investigated. Primary HUVECs were cultured and exposed to the distinct magnetic conditions in the same incubator. Although cell numbers were slightly affected between 30 and 120 µT magnetic fields, reducing the magnetic field to low levels clearly inhibited proliferation. The rationale of introducing LLF is to elucidate a possible mechanism of interaction. Small differences of 30 µT reduce endothelial cell numbers significantly. The addition of free radical scavenger superoxide dismutase suppressed the enhanced proliferation caused by 120 µT static magnetic fields. It is proposed that the static magnetic field interacts with endothelial cells via a free radical mechanism.