High-Intensity Pulse Magnetic Fields Affect Redox Homeostasis and Survival Rate of Escherichia coli According to Initial Level of Intracellular Glucose

The biological effects of magnetic fields (MFs) have been studied and applied in medicine over the past four decades. However, the influence of high-intensity pulse magnetic fields (HI-PMFs), theorized to exert even stronger biological effects, is rarely reported. Herein, a study was conducted to investigate the biological effects of 2.5 T HI-PMF on the model organism <i>Escherichia coli</i> and its corresponding physiological alterations. After being treated by HI-PMF, a notable increase was observed in its intracellular NADH/NAD⁺ ratio, coupled with an improved cell survival rate. Transcriptome analysis revealed significant upregulation of genes related to glucose metabolism. Subsequent experiments confirmed that if the initial intracellular glucose level was relatively high and markedly decreased after being treated with HI-PMF, the cell density would significantly rise, owing to the alleviated inhibition of cell division. On the contrary, a lower initial intracellular glucose level led to cell death under HI-PMF. Furthermore, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was proved to be the main cause attributed to the above phenomena. Therefore, our study suggests that HI-PMF treatment promotes ROS production, enhances cellular glucose metabolism, and consequently influences cell division and survival rate according to the initial level of intracellular glucose.