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Updated: Aug 5, 2025
Differentiation of the SH-SY5Y Human Neuroblastoma Cell Line
Published on: February 17, 2016
The Application of Static Magnetic Stimulation Reduces Survival of SH-SY5Y Neuroblastoma Cells
Helouise Richardt Medeiros1,2,3, José Antônio Fagundes Assumpção4, Dirson João Stein1,2,3
1Laboratory of Pain Pharmacology and Neuromodulation, Preclinical Studies-Experimental Research Center, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
Background/Aim:
Central nervous system cancer is still a major public health issue. The effectiveness of treatments is limited and varies depending on the severity of disease. Therefore, there is a demand for the development of novel therapies. Static magnetic stimulation (SMS) emerges as a new therapeutic option. The aim of this study was to evaluate the SMS effects on neuroblastoma cells in culture.
Materials And Methods:
SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells were exposed to 0.3T SMS for 6, 12, 24, 36, 72 h, and 6 days. Cell viability (MTT), cell death (annexin-V/PI staining) and cell cycle (DNA content), cell proliferation (CFSE), autophagy (acridine orange), and total mitochondrial mass (MitoTracker™ Red) were analyzed to establish the cellular response to SMS.
Results:
The viability of SH-SY5Y cells was reduced after exposure to SMS for 24 h and 6 days (p<0.05), without differences for the other times (p>0.05); however, this effect was not related to cell death or cell cycle arrest (p>0.05). In contrast, the viability of human malignant melanoma (HMV-II) cells, used as a tumoral control, was not affected. In addition, stimulated SH-SY5Y cells presented a decrease in mitochondrial mass at both exposure times and a reduction in autophagy and cell proliferation after 6 days (p<0.05).
Conclusion:
SMS application appears to be a promising adjuvant therapy for the treatment of neuroblastoma since it decreases the survival of SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells.
Insights
Static magnetic stimulation (SMS) reduced neuroblastoma cell viability and mitochondrial mass. This novel therapy shows promise for treating neuroblastoma by decreasing cancer cell survival.
Area of Science:
- Neuro-oncology
- Biophysics
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Central nervous system cancer poses a significant public health challenge.
- Current neuroblastoma treatments have limitations, necessitating novel therapeutic approaches.
- Static magnetic stimulation (SMS) is an emerging therapeutic modality.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of static magnetic stimulation (SMS) on neuroblastoma cells in vitro.
- To evaluate SMS impact on cell viability, death, cell cycle, proliferation, autophagy, and mitochondrial mass.
Main Methods:
- SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells were subjected to 0.3T SMS for various durations (6h to 6 days).
- Assays included MTT for viability, annexin-V/PI for cell death, DNA content for cell cycle, CFSE for proliferation, acridine orange for autophagy, and MitoTracker™ Red for mitochondrial mass.
Main Results:
- SMS exposure for 24 hours and 6 days significantly reduced SH-SY5Y cell viability (p<0.05).
- This reduction was not linked to cell death or cell cycle arrest.
- SMS decreased mitochondrial mass, autophagy, and cell proliferation in neuroblastoma cells after 6 days.
Conclusions:
- Static magnetic stimulation (SMS) demonstrates potential as an adjuvant therapy for neuroblastoma.
- SMS application effectively decreases the survival of SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells.
- Further research is warranted to explore SMS therapeutic applications in neuro-oncology.
