Fifty-hertz magnetic fields induce DNA damage through activating mPTP associated mitochondrial

Biophysical Chemistry · 2025 · Harm · Low evidence

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HarmLow evidencePaper 326

Exposure to 50 Hz magnetic fields at 1.0 mT for 24 h induced significant DNA damage in senescent, but not non-senescent, human fetal lung fibroblasts. The study reports that ROS generation mediated by mPTP activation played a critical role in this process.

Study snapshot

PublicationBiophysical Chemistry · 2025

Study typein_vitro

Reported directionHarm

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Fifty-hertz magnetic fields induce DNA damage through activating mPTP associated mitochondrial permeability transition in senescent human fetal lung fibroblasts Sun C, Wang S, Zhang J, Zhou X, Zhu T, Mao G. Fifty-hertz magnetic fields induce DNA damage through activating mPTP associated mitochondrial permeability transition in senescent human fetal lung fibroblasts. Biophysical Chemistry. Volume 318, 2025, doi: 10.1016/j.bpc.2024.107367. Abstract With the rapid development and using of electromagnetic technology, artificial electromagnetic fields (EMFs) have become an emerging environmental factor in our daily life. Extremely-low-frequency (ELF) magnetic fields (MFs), generally generated by power lines and various electric equipment, is one of the most common EMFs in the environment which were concerned for the potential impact on human health. Base on limited evidence, ELF-MFs have been classified as possible carcinogen to human by International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), but the mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. Senescent cells are a group of special cells, characterized by cell cycle arrest, senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), accumulation of macromolecular damage, and metabolic disturbance, play important role in fetal development, tissue aging, and even carcinogenesis. Thus, EMFs may promote carcinogenesis by affecting senescent cells, however, there are few studies. In this study, we found that exposure to 50 Hz MFs at 1.0 mT for 24 h could induce significant DNA damage in senescent but not non-senescent human fetal lung fibroblast suggested that senescent cells are more sensitive to 50 Hz MFs on DNA damage, and further results revealed that reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation mediated by mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) activation play critical role in this process. Our results indicated that cellular senescence can lead to cell sensitivity to the DNA damage effect of 50 Hz MFs, however, whether this play important role in mediating the carcinogenesis of EMFs await further study. sciencedirect.com

Machine Enhanced Logic

AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typein_vitro

Effect directionharm

PopulationSenescent and non-senescent human fetal lung fibroblasts (cell culture)

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureELF · 0.05 MHz · 24 h

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: unknown

Main findings

Outcomes measured

DNA damage
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation
Mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) activation
Differential sensitivity of senescent vs non-senescent cells

Limitations

In vitro cell culture study; findings may not generalize to humans or real-world exposures
Sample size and detailed methods not provided in the abstract
Mechanistic claims (ROS/mPTP) are summarized without specific experimental details in the abstract
Carcinogenesis relevance is stated as awaiting further study

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "in_vitro",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": 0.05,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "24 h"
  },
  "population": "Senescent and non-senescent human fetal lung fibroblasts (cell culture)",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "DNA damage",
    "Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation",
    "Mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) activation",
    "Differential sensitivity of senescent vs non-senescent cells"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Exposure to 50 Hz magnetic fields at 1.0 mT for 24 h induced significant DNA damage in senescent, but not non-senescent, human fetal lung fibroblasts. The study reports that ROS generation mediated by mPTP activation played a critical role in this process.",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [
    "In vitro cell culture study; findings may not generalize to humans or real-world exposures",
    "Sample size and detailed methods not provided in the abstract",
    "Mechanistic claims (ROS/mPTP) are summarized without specific experimental details in the abstract",
    "Carcinogenesis relevance is stated as awaiting further study"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "unknown",
  "keywords": [
    "50 Hz",
    "extremely-low-frequency",
    "ELF magnetic fields",
    "1.0 mT",
    "DNA damage",
    "senescent cells",
    "human fetal lung fibroblasts",
    "ROS",
    "mitochondrial permeability transition pore",
    "mPTP"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "occupational-exposure",
      "weight": 0.25,
      "reason": "ELF magnetic fields are described as generated by power lines and electric equipment; exposure context could relate to occupational/environmental ELF sources, though this study is in vitro."
    }
  ]
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.1016/j.bpc.2024.107367
PubMed: Not supplied

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