Real-time measurement of cytosolic free calcium concentration in HL-60 cells during static magnetic field exposure and activation by ATP

Calcium ions are involved in a number of important signal transduction pathways in cells. Cytosolic calcium concentration ([Ca2+](c)) call be affected by the activation of Ca2+ channels through the action of ligands. Such as ATR The response of [Ca2+] to ligands may be affected by external factors like magnetic fields. The Purpose of this study was to determine if exposure to a static magnetic field (SMF) for 800 s altered the [Ca2+](c) response to ATP in undifferentiated HL-60 cells. We sham exposed or field exposed fura-2 loaded HL-60 cells to a SMF of 1, 10, and 100 mT. Cells were activated with ATP 300 s into the exposure. The level of [Ca2+](c) was followed before, during, and after field or sham exposure with a ratiometric fluorescence spectroscopy system. It was found that high concentrations of ATP resulted in greater [Ca2+](c) responses, but faster recovery to near basal levels. The application of 1, 10, or 100 mT SMF did not affect the [Ca2+](c) response to ATP. Future work Could examine the effect of a longer SMF exposure on the [Ca2+](c) response to ATP. Longer exposures might provide Sufficient time for morphological changes in the plasma membrane to occur.