Study type: Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Short-term exposure to 50-Hz electromagnetic field and alterations in NQO1 and NQO2 expression in MCF-7 cells med./bio.

Published in: Open Access Maced J Med Sci 2016; 4 (4): 548-550

Aim of study (acc. to author)

The effects of exposure of human breast adenocarcinoma cells to a 50 Hz magnetic field on the gene expressions of NADPH dehydrogenase-1 and -2 should be investigated.

Background/further details

NADPH dehydrogenases-1 and -2 are ubiquitously expressed proteins which can reduce quinones like menadione. Genetic changes in these proteins might be associated with oxidative stress.
Cells were divided into the following groups: exposure to the 0.25 mT magnetic field 1) intermittent 5 min field-on/5 min field, 2) intermittent 15 min field-on/15 min field-off and 3) 30 min continuous and exposure to the 0.5 mT magnetic field 4) intermittent 5 min field-on/5 min field-off, 5) intermittent 15 min field-on/15 min field-off and 6) 30 min continuous.
For each group a separate control group was used and cells of all groups were investigated directly and 2 hours after exposure.

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure Parameters
Exposure 1: 50 Hz
Exposure duration: intermittent 5 min field-on/5 min field-off for 30 minutes
Exposure 2: 50 Hz
Exposure duration: intermittent 15 min field-on/15 min field-off for 30 minutes
Exposure 3: 50 Hz
Exposure duration: continuous for 30 minutes
Exposure 4: 50 Hz
Exposure duration: intermittent 5 min field-on/5 min field-off for 30 minutes
Exposure 5: 50 Hz
Exposure duration: intermittent 15 min field-on/15 min field-off for 30 minutes
Exposure 6: 50 Hz
Exposure duration: continuous for 30 minutes

Exposure 1

Main characteristics
Frequency 50 Hz
Type
Exposure duration intermittent 5 min field-on/5 min field-off for 30 minutes
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Setup cells in petri dishes were placed in a solenoid inside an incubator
Sham exposure A sham exposure was conducted.
Additional info control groups were cultured in the same exposure system with solenoid turned off
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
magnetic flux density 0.25 mT - - - -

Exposure 2

Main characteristics
Frequency 50 Hz
Type
Exposure duration intermittent 15 min field-on/15 min field-off for 30 minutes
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Sham exposure A sham exposure was conducted.
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
magnetic flux density 0.25 mT - - - -

Exposure 3

Main characteristics
Frequency 50 Hz
Type
Exposure duration continuous for 30 minutes
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Sham exposure A sham exposure was conducted.
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
magnetic flux density 0.25 mT - - - -

Exposure 4

Main characteristics
Frequency 50 Hz
Type
Exposure duration intermittent 5 min field-on/5 min field-off for 30 minutes
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Sham exposure A sham exposure was conducted.
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
magnetic flux density 0.5 mT - - - -

Exposure 5

Main characteristics
Frequency 50 Hz
Type
Exposure duration intermittent 15 min field-on/15 min field-off for 30 minutes
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Sham exposure A sham exposure was conducted.
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
magnetic flux density 0.5 mT - - - -

Exposure 6

Main characteristics
Frequency 50 Hz
Type
Exposure duration continuous for 30 minutes
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Sham exposure A sham exposure was conducted.
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
magnetic flux density 0.5 mT - - - -

Reference articles

  • Mahmoudinasab H et al. (2016): Effects of extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field on expression levels of some antioxidant genes in human MCF-7 cells

Exposed system:

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

Investigated system:
Time of investigation:
  • after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

The gene expression of NADPH dehydrogenase-1 was significantly decreased in group 1 (0.25 mT, 5 min field-on/5 min field-off) compared to the respective control group directly after exposure. The gene expression of NADPH dehydrogenase-2, however, was significantly increased in group 4 (0.5 mT, 5 min field-on/5 min field-off) directly after and 2 hours after exposure compared to the control group.
The authors conclude that exposure of human breast adenocarcinoma cells to a 50 Hz magnetic field might influence the gene expressions of NADPH dehydrogenase-1 and -2 under 5 min field-on/5 min field-off conditions.

Study character:

Study funded by

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