The effect of a 50-Hz sinusoidal magnetic field on nitric oxide (NO) production by human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs)

To investigate the effect of magnetic fields on living systems, we analyzed the effect of a 50-Hz, 1-mT sinusoidal magnetic field on nitric oxide (NO) production in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Statistically significant differences in NO production were identified between exposed and unexposed (sham) cells. This finding confirms previous studies showing that magnetic fields can influence NO production; however, unlike previous studies, our results demonstrate two-way deviation of NO production under the influence of a magnetic field. Thus, in some cases, NO production was higher for the exposed group than the sham group, while in other cases the reverse was true. We suggest that the magnetic field affected the homeostasis of NO levels in a complex manner. Thus, the resulting NO level was dependent on the condition of the cell in each experiment or cells in each experiment were at a different stage in the cell cycle and therefore exhibited a different response when exposed to the magnetic field.