Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Experimental model for ELF-EMF exposure: Concern for human health med./bio.

By: D'Angelo C, Costantini E, Kamal MA, Reale M

Published in: Saudi J Biol Sci 2015; 22 (1): 75-84

Aim of study (acc. to author)

The effect of an in vitro exposure of four different cell lines to a 50 Hz magnetic field on the expression of MCP-1 should be investigated.

Background/further details

The monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) is a cytokine which guides monocytes and other leukocytes to centers of inflammation and infection and has importance in diseases like rheumatism and atherosclerosis. The authors speculated that an anti-inflammatory effect of extremely low frequency magnetic fields described in literature could be caused by an alteration of the MCP-1 expression. THP-1 cells were also tested after a stimulation with lipopolysaccharides and K562 cells after a stimulation with phorbol myristate acetate.

Endpoint

molecular biosynthesis: expression of MCP-1 in different cell lines

Exposure

- 50 Hz
- 50/60 Hz
- magnetic field

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 50 Hz Exposure duration: continuous for 4-72 h	magnetic flux density: 1 mT effective value

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	50 Hz
Type	magnetic field
Waveform	sinusoidal
Exposure duration	continuous for 4-72 h

Exposure setup

Exposure source	solenoid
Chamber	cells were exposed inside an incubator in the central part of the solenoid
Setup	solenoid placed inside the incubator; solenoid consisted of 160 turns of wire (22 cm length, 6 cm radius, copper wire diameter of 1.25 x 10^-5 cm) generating a horizontal magnetic field; signal had a stability higher than 1% both in frequency and in amplitude and 98% homogeneity at location of cells; temperature remained at 37± 0.38°C

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
magnetic flux density	1 mT	effective value	measured	-	-

Additional parameter details

environmental magnetic noise inside the incubator resulted from the geomagnetic field (ca. 40 mT; comment from EMF-Portal: mT is most probably a spelling mistake and µT should be the correct unit) and the 50 Hz disturbance associated with the working incubator (ca. 7 mT (rms)) (?!)

Exposed system:

intact cell/cell culture
HaCaT cells (human keratinocytes), SH-SY5Y cells (human neuroblastoma cell line),THP-1 cells (human monocytic leukemia cell line), K562 cells (human erythroleukemic cell line)

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

molecular biosynthesis: gene expression (real time PCR, all cell lines) and protein expression (ELISA, only for HaCaT cells) of MCP-1

Investigated system:

isolated bio./chem. substance
DNA/RNA
protein

Time of investigation:

during exposure
after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

A significantly decreased MCP-1 gene expression and protein expression rate was found in exposed HaCaT cells compared to the control after 4 to 72 hours of exposure. No significant differences were observed between exposure and control in SH-SY5Y cultures after 24 hours of exposure (comment of EMF-Portal: contradictory results in the running text and in the table). No significant differences could be found in exposed THP-1 cells compared to the control, either. In the tests with K562 cells, a significant increase in MCP-1 expression was found in exposed cells compared to the control, when these were additionally treated with PMA, a stimulant for the differentiation into monocytes and megakaryocytes.
The authors conclude that an in vitro exposure of cells to a 50 Hz magnetic field could influence the MCP-1 expression cell specifically.

Study character:

medical/biological study
experimental study
pilot/exploratory/preliminary study

Study funded by

not stated/no funding

Li H et al. (2018): Eotaxin‑1 and MCP‑1 serve as circulating indicators in response to power frequency electromagnetic field exposure in mice
Reale M et al. (2014): Neuronal cellular responses to extremely low frequency electromagnetic field exposure: implications regarding oxidative stress and neurodegeneration
Ross CL et al. (2013): Effect of time-varied magnetic field on inflammatory response in macrophage cell line RAW 264.7
de Girolamo L et al. (2013): Low frequency pulsed electromagnetic field affects proliferation, tissue-specific gene expression, and cytokines release of human tendon cells
Bouwens M et al. (2012): Low-frequency electromagnetic fields do not alter responses of inflammatory genes and proteins in human monocytes and immune cell lines
de Kleijn S et al. (2011): Extremely low frequency electromagnetic field exposure does not modulate toll-like receptor signaling in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells
Gomez-Ochoa I et al. (2011): Pulsed electromagnetic fields decrease proinflammatory cytokine secretion (IL-1beta and TNF-alpha) on human fibroblast-like cell culture
Vianale G et al. (2008): Extremely low frequency electromagnetic field enhances human keratinocyte cell growth and decreases proinflammatory chemokine production
Reale M et al. (2006): Modulation of MCP-1 and iNOS by 50-Hz sinusoidal electromagnetic field
Ikeda K et al. (2003): No effects of extremely low frequency magnetic fields found on cytotoxic activities and cytokine production of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells in vitro
Zhou J et al. (2002): Gene expression of cytokine receptors in HL60 cells exposed to a 50 Hz magnetic field
Jonai H et al. (1996): Cytokine profile of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells exposed to 50 Hz EMF