Static magnetic field inhibits epithelial mesenchymal transition and metastasis of glioma

Abstract Gliomas exhibit suboptimal responses to conventional treatments, with tumor cell migration remaining a significant challenge in therapy. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is crucial for glioma cell invasion, and transforming growth factor β1(TGF-β1) is a key factor promoting prolifera...

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Main Authors: Ziyu Sun, Wenxuan Zhao, Xifeng Fei, Bao He, Lei Shi, Zhen Zhang, Shizhong Cai
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-04-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-96047-x
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author Ziyu Sun
Wenxuan Zhao
Xifeng Fei
Bao He
Lei Shi
Zhen Zhang
Shizhong Cai
author_facet Ziyu Sun
Wenxuan Zhao
Xifeng Fei
Bao He
Lei Shi
Zhen Zhang
Shizhong Cai
author_sort Ziyu Sun
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Gliomas exhibit suboptimal responses to conventional treatments, with tumor cell migration remaining a significant challenge in therapy. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is crucial for glioma cell invasion, and transforming growth factor β1(TGF-β1) is a key factor promoting proliferation, migration, and EMT in glioblastoma (GBM). Although magnetic fields are widely used in the diagnosis and treatment of various diseases, their effects on EMT in glioma cells remain unclear. In this study, we investigated whether a static magnetic field (SMF) could inhibit EMT and metastasis in glioma cells. Cellular functional assays using the U251 and U87 glioma cell lines were performed to investigate their functional and phenotypic changes. Results showed that TGF-β1 treatment increased the invasion and migration capabilities of glioma cells, while simultaneously reducing apoptosis. However, when SMF was combined with TGF-β1 treatment, a significant reduction in cell migration and invasion was observed, along with an increase in apoptosis. Additionally, this combination treatment significantly decreased the protein expression of mesenchymal markers N-cadherin and β-catenin, as well as reduced the levels of the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2. Collectively, these findings suggest that SMFs may attenuate glioma cell metastasis by inhibiting EMT. Therefore, SMFs could represent a promising therapeutic strategy for diminishing glioma metastasis.
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spelling doaj-art-170a677652024a6292aeb2b47c8e749b2025-08-20T03:06:57ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-04-011511810.1038/s41598-025-96047-xStatic magnetic field inhibits epithelial mesenchymal transition and metastasis of gliomaZiyu Sun0Wenxuan Zhao1Xifeng Fei2Bao He3Lei Shi4Zhen Zhang5Shizhong Cai6Department of Neurosurgery, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, The First People’s Hospital of KunshanDepartment of Neurosurgery, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, The First People’s Hospital of KunshanDepartment of Neurosurgery, Suzhou Kowloon Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of MedicineDepartment of Neurosurgery, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, The First People’s Hospital of KunshanDepartment of Neurosurgery, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, The First People’s Hospital of KunshanDepartment of Radiology, Affiliated Kunshan Hospital of Jiangsu University, China Medical University, Gusu School Nanjing Medical UniversityDepartment of Child and Adolescent Healthcare, Children’s Hospital of Soochow UniversityAbstract Gliomas exhibit suboptimal responses to conventional treatments, with tumor cell migration remaining a significant challenge in therapy. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is crucial for glioma cell invasion, and transforming growth factor β1(TGF-β1) is a key factor promoting proliferation, migration, and EMT in glioblastoma (GBM). Although magnetic fields are widely used in the diagnosis and treatment of various diseases, their effects on EMT in glioma cells remain unclear. In this study, we investigated whether a static magnetic field (SMF) could inhibit EMT and metastasis in glioma cells. Cellular functional assays using the U251 and U87 glioma cell lines were performed to investigate their functional and phenotypic changes. Results showed that TGF-β1 treatment increased the invasion and migration capabilities of glioma cells, while simultaneously reducing apoptosis. However, when SMF was combined with TGF-β1 treatment, a significant reduction in cell migration and invasion was observed, along with an increase in apoptosis. Additionally, this combination treatment significantly decreased the protein expression of mesenchymal markers N-cadherin and β-catenin, as well as reduced the levels of the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2. Collectively, these findings suggest that SMFs may attenuate glioma cell metastasis by inhibiting EMT. Therefore, SMFs could represent a promising therapeutic strategy for diminishing glioma metastasis.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-96047-xGliomaMagnetic fieldEpithelial-mesenchymal transitionTGF-β1
spellingShingle Ziyu Sun
Wenxuan Zhao
Xifeng Fei
Bao He
Lei Shi
Zhen Zhang
Shizhong Cai
Static magnetic field inhibits epithelial mesenchymal transition and metastasis of glioma
Scientific Reports
Glioma
Magnetic field
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition
TGF-β1
title Static magnetic field inhibits epithelial mesenchymal transition and metastasis of glioma
title_full Static magnetic field inhibits epithelial mesenchymal transition and metastasis of glioma
title_fullStr Static magnetic field inhibits epithelial mesenchymal transition and metastasis of glioma
title_full_unstemmed Static magnetic field inhibits epithelial mesenchymal transition and metastasis of glioma
title_short Static magnetic field inhibits epithelial mesenchymal transition and metastasis of glioma
title_sort static magnetic field inhibits epithelial mesenchymal transition and metastasis of glioma
topic Glioma
Magnetic field
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition
TGF-β1
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-96047-x
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