Morphological and biochemical analysis by atomic force microscopy and scanning near-field optical microscopy techniques of human keratinocytes (HaCaT) exposed to extremely low frequency 50 Hz magnetic field

We studied the effect of the interaction of electromagnetic radiation with human keratinocytes (HaCaT), at low (50 Hz, 1 mT) frequency using both atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning near-field optical microscopy (SNOM) techniques. AFM analysis showed modifications in shape and morphology in exposed cells, while SNOM indirect immunofluorescence analysis revealed an increase of segregation of beta4 integrin (an adhesion marker) in the cell membrane of the same cells, suggesting that a higher percentage of the exposed cells shows a modified pattern of this adhesion marker. (C) 2002 American Institute of Physics.