Medical/biological Study (experimental study)

Low-frequency electromagnetic fields do not alter responses of inflammatory genes and proteins in human monocytes and immune cell lines. med./biol.

PubMed Entry

Journal web site

Aim of study (according to author)
To study the effects of two low frequency electromagnetic fields (a complex, continuously changing field, and a commonly applied 50 Hz sine wave signal) on gene expression and protein expression of cytokines in three different cell types.

Endpoint

• molecular biosynthesis: cytokine gene expression and protein expression

Exposure
General category: magnetic field, low frequency field, 50/60 Hz (AC)

Field characteristics	Parameters
field 1: 50 Hz exposure duration: continuous for 30 min	magnetic flux density: 5 µT
field 2: 320 - 2600 Hz exposure duration: continuous for 30 min	magnetic flux density: 5 µT

Exposed system:
intact cell/cell culture (in vitro)
Detroit 562 cells (human pharyngeal cells), THP-1 cells (human monocytic leukemia cell line) and human monocytes

Methods
Endpoint/Measurement parameters/Methodology

• molecular biosynthesis: cytokine gene expression and protein expression (different interleukins, TNF-alpha, NF kappa B, COX-2 (at different time points after LPS stimulation); quantitative real-time PCR and flow cytometry)
• cell viability/cell division/proliferation: cell viability (trypan blue exclusion assay)

Main outcome of study (according to author)
The data showed that neither 30 minutes exposure to a complex, multiple waveform signal, nor 30 minutes exposure to a 50 Hz sine wave signal induced any modulatory effects in cytokine gene expression or protein expression in an LPS-stimulated monocyte/macrophage cell line, freshly isolated monocytes, or a pharyngeal epithelial cell line. Therefore, the authors do not expect that these exposure conditions will modulate immune signaling pathways.

(Study character: medical/biological study, experimental study, full/main study)

Study funded by

• ZonMw, The Netherlands

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