원문정보
초록
영어
Magnetic field (MF) therapy is an emerging method of treatment for numerous neurodegenerative diseases. However, the exact mechanism of how and to what degree a magnetic field affects neurological function remains controversial. In Alzheimer’ disease, hyperphosphorylation of tau protein is known as one of the main causes of neurofibilary tangles leading to neuronal death. In this study, effects of a range of static magnetic fields (SMF) and electromagnetic fields (EMF) on phosphorylation of tau protein have been investigated. PC12 cells treated with nerve growth factor (NGF) have been exposed to SMF of 3 mT, 15 mT, and 170 mT and an EMF of 1 mT at 50 Hz for 4 days. Tau protein phosphorylation level of each sample was examined, and the results indicated that the phosphorylation level increased with low MF exposures (1, 3 mT) and decreased with high MF exposures (15, 170 mT) when compared with the control. To examine more specifically where this effect takes place, expression levels of some of the upstream genes related to tau phosphorylation have been observed. This study suggests that MF may open up a new venue for the treatment of Alzheimer’ disease.