Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Expression levels of heat shock protein 60 in human endothelial cells in vitro are unaffected by exposure to 50 Hz magnetic fields med./bio.

By: Henderson BR, Pfister G, Böck G, Kind M, Wick G

Published in: Cell Stress Chaperones 2003; 8 (2): 172-182

Aim of study (acc. to author)

This study was performed to investigate the effects of extremely low frequency magnetic field on heat shock protein 60 expression in human non-transformed endothelial cells in vitro.

Background/further details

The heat shock protein 60 was examined as increased levels of this protein expressed by endothelial cells have been hypothesized to play an important role in the development of blood vessels sclerosis.
The cells were exposed to magnetic field alone or co-exposed before/after heat shock (30 minutes at 42°C).

Endpoint

molecular biosynthesis: Hsp60 expression

Exposure

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 50 Hz Exposure duration: 6 h, 24 h continuous	magnetic flux density: 700 µT

General information

experiments were performed: i) with EMF only ii) with heat stress ( 30 min at 42°) only iii) with EMF and heat stress

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	50 Hz
Type	magnetic field
Exposure duration	6 h, 24 h continuous

Exposure setup

Exposure source	Helmholtz coils
Setup	Helmholtz coil consisting of a pair of circular coils each with an inner diameter of 200 mm and 110 turns of 1 mm copper wire around a Perspex frame, 110 mm apart
Sham exposure	A sham exposure was conducted.

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
magnetic flux density	700 µT	-	measured	-	-

Exposed system:

intact cell/cell culture
human umbilical venous endothelial cells

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

molecular biosynthesis: hsp60 RNA expression (Northern blot), Hsp60 protein expression (Western blot, immunofluorescence confocal microscopy)

Investigated system:

isolated bio./chem. substance
DNA/RNA

Time of investigation:

after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

No significant changes in Hsp60 expression were observed neither in endothelial cells exposed to magnetic field alone nor in cells stressed by heat shock before or after exposure to magnetic field.
Therefore, the exposure to magnetic field is not considered to be a risk factor for the sclerosis of blood vessels.

Study character:

medical/biological study
experimental study
full/main study

Study funded by

Austrian Science Fund (Der Wissenschaftsfonds, FWF), Austria
Verband der Elektrizitätsunternehmen Österreichs (VEÖ, Association of Austrian Electricity Companies), Austria

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