Static magnetic field exposure reproduces cellular effects of the Parkinson's disease drug candidate
Wang Z, Che PL, Du J, Ha B, Yarema KJ. · 2010
View Original AbstractStatic magnetic fields reproduced the cellular effects of a Parkinson's drug candidate, suggesting magnetic therapy potential.
Plain English Summary
Researchers exposed cells with Parkinson's disease characteristics to static magnetic fields and found the fields produced effects remarkably similar to a promising Parkinson's drug candidate called ZM241385. The magnetic fields altered calcium levels, energy production, and other cellular processes in ways that could potentially benefit Parkinson's patients. This suggests magnetic field therapy might offer a non-invasive treatment approach for neurological disorders.
Why This Matters
This research opens an intriguing window into magnetic fields as potential therapeutic tools rather than just health hazards. The science demonstrates that moderate-strength static magnetic fields can fundamentally alter how cells function, specifically mimicking the beneficial effects of a Parkinson's drug candidate across multiple biological pathways. What makes this particularly significant is the specificity of the response - these weren't random cellular changes but targeted effects on the same adenosine A2A receptor pathway that researchers are pursuing for Parkinson's treatment.
The reality is that magnetic fields at these strengths (0.1 to 1 Tesla) are far more powerful than typical household exposures, which measure in the millitesla range. While this study suggests therapeutic potential, it also underscores how profoundly magnetic fields can influence cellular biology. You don't have to fear your everyday magnetic exposures based on this research, but the findings do reinforce that magnetic fields are biologically active forces capable of significant cellular effects.
Exposure Information
Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.
Study Details
The current paper investigated SMF by focusing on the adenosine A2A receptor (A2AR) in the PC12 rat adrenal pheochromocytoma cell line that displays metabolic features of Parkinson's disease (PD).
SMF reproduced several responses elicited by ZM241385, a selective A2AR antagonist, in PC12 cells in...
When measured against multiple endpoints, SMF elicited qualitatively similar responses as ZM241385, a PD drug candidate. Provided that the in vitro results presented in this paper apply in vivo, SMF holds promise as an intriguing non-invasive approach to treat PD and potentially other neurological disorders.
Show BibTeX
@article{z_2010_static_magnetic_field_exposure_1574,
author = {Wang Z and Che PL and Du J and Ha B and Yarema KJ.},
title = {Static magnetic field exposure reproduces cellular effects of the Parkinson's disease drug candidate},
year = {2010},
url = {https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0013883},
}