Morphofunctional study of 12-O-tetradecanoyl-13-phorbol acetate (TPA)-induced differentiation of U937 cells under exposure to a 6mT static magnetic field

This study deals with the morphofunctional influence of 72 h exposure to a 6 mT static magnetic field (SMF) during differentiation induced by 50 ng/ml 12-0-tetradecanoyl-13-phorbol acetate (TPA) in human leukaemia U937 cells. The cell morphology of U937 cells was investigated by optic and electron microscopy. Specific antibodies and/or molecules were used to labell CD11c, CD14, phosphatidylserine, F-actin and to investigate the distribution and activity of lysosomes, mitochondria and SER. [Ca2+]i was investigated by spectrophotometry. The degree of differentiation in SMF-exposed cells was lower than that of non-exposed ones, the difference being exposure-time dependent. SMF-exposed cell showed cell shape and F-actin modification, inhibition of cell attachment, appearance of membrane roughness and large blebs and impaired expression of specific macrophagic markers on the cell surface. The intracellular localization of SER and lysosomes was only partially affected by exposure. A significant localization of mitochondria with an intact membrane potential at the cell periphery in non-exposed, TPA stimulated cells was observed; conversely, in presence of the SMF mitochondria were mainly localized near the nucleus. In no case did SMF exposure affect cell viability. The sharp intracellular increase of [Ca2+]i could be one of the causes of the above-described changes.