Electromagnetic fields mediate efficient cell reprogramming into a pluripotent state

Soonbong Baek, Xiaoyuan Quan, Soochan Kim, Christopher Lengner, Jung Keug Park, Jongpil Kim

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

71 Scopus citations

Abstract

Life on Earth is constantly exposed to natural electromagnetic fields (EMFs), and it is generally accepted that EMFs may exert a variety of effects on biological systems. Particularly, extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields (EL-EMFs) affect biological processes such as cell development and differentiation; however, the fundamental mechanisms by which EMFs influence these processes remain unclear. Here we show that EMF exposure induces epigenetic changes that promote efficient somatic cell reprogramming to pluripotency. These epigenetic changes resulted from EMF-induced activation of the histone lysine methyltransferase Mll2. Remarkably, an EMF-free system that eliminates Earths naturally occurring magnetic field abrogates these epigenetic changes, resulting in a failure to undergo reprogramming. Therefore, our results reveal that EMF directly regulates dynamic epigenetic changes through Mll2, providing an efficient tool for epigenetic reprogramming including the acquisition of pluripotency.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)10125-10138
Number of pages14
JournalACS Nano
Volume8
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - 28 Oct 2014

Keywords

  • cell reprogramming
  • electromagnetic fields
  • epigenetic changes

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