Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Effect of electromagnetic field exposure on chemically induced differentiation of friend erythroleukemia cells med./bio.

By: Chen G, Upham BL, Sun W, Chang CC, Rothwell EJ, Chen KM, Yamasaki H, Trosko JE

Published in: Environ Health Perspect 2000; 108 (10): 967-972

Aim of study (acc. to author)

This in vitro study was performed to explore the question whether the exposure to extremely low frequency magnetic field can contribute to tumor promotion.

Background/further details

The tumor promotion was investigated in the undifferentiated progenitor erythrocyte cell line which can be artificially induced in its differentiation. The cell differentiation (hemoglobin concentration, telomerase activity: marker of undifferentiated cells) and the cell proliferation served as indicator of effects on tumor promotion. TPA treated cells were the positive control.

Endpoint

cell viability/cell division/proliferation: cell proliferation, cell differentiation

Exposure

- 50/60 Hz
- magnetic field

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 60 Hz Exposure duration: 3 days continuous	magnetic flux density: 1 mT maximum magnetic flux density: 0.1 mT minimum power: 0.001 nW average over time

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	60 Hz
Type	magnetic field
Exposure duration	3 days continuous

Exposure setup

Exposure source	coil(s)
Chamber	plastic chambers 85 x 85 x 90 cm; cell samples placed on a grid 10 cm from bottom, 7cm above intake port
Setup	8 coils per chamber arranged in four in a Merrit configuration
Sham exposure	A sham exposure was conducted.

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
magnetic flux density	1 mT	maximum	measured	-	-
magnetic flux density	0.1 mT	minimum	measured	-	-
power	0.001 nW	average over time	measured	-	-

Exposed system:

intact cell/cell culture
Friend erythroleukemia cell line

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

cell viability/cell division/proliferation: cell proliferation (DNA concentration: photometry), cell differentiation (hemoglobin determination: benzidine stain, hemocytometer/flow cytometry; telomerase activity: PCR)

Investigated system:

intact cell/cell culture

Time of investigation:

after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

The cell proliferation extremely low frequency electromagnetic field exposed cells was significantly higher than in sham exposed cells.
The exposure the electromagnetic field resulted in a dose dependent inhibition of the cell differentiation, reflected in a less diminished telomerase activity and lower hemoglobin concentration in exposed cells compared to sham exposed cells.
Summarized, extremely low frequency electromagnetic field can partially block the differentiation of the investigated cell line.

Study character:

medical/biological study
experimental study
full/main study

Study funded by

Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), USA

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