Cellular stress response to extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF): An explanation for controversial effects of ELF-EMF on apoptosis (Review)

2021 · Mixed · Insufficient evidence

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MixedInsufficient evidencePaper 1009

Study snapshot

Publicationmanual · 2021

Study typereview

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingInsufficient

Abstract

Cellular stress response to extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF): An explanation for controversial effects of ELF-EMF on apoptosis (Review) Barati M, Darvishi B, Javidi MA, Mohammadian A, Shariatpanahi SP, Eisavand MR, Madjid Ansari A. Cellular stress response to extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF): An explanation for controversial effects of ELF-EMF on apoptosis. Cell Prolif. 2021 Nov 6:e13154. doi: 10.1111/cpr.13154. Abstract Impaired apoptosis is one of the hallmarks of cancer, and almost all of the non-surgical approaches of eradicating tumour cells somehow promote induction of apoptosis. Indeed, numerous studies have stated that non-ionizing non-thermal extremely low-frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MF) can modulate the induction of apoptosis in exposed cells; however, much controversy exists in observations. When cells are exposed to ELF- EMF alone, very low or no statistically significant changes in apoptosis are observed. Contrarily, exposure to ELF- EMF in the presence of a co-stressor, including a chemotherapeutic agent or ionizing radiation, can either potentiate or inhibit apoptotic effects of the co-stressor. In our idea, the main point neglected in interpreting these discrepancies is "the cellular stress responses" of cells following ELF-EMF exposure and its interplay with apoptosis. The main purpose of the current review was to outline the triangle of ELF-EMF, the cellular stress response of cells and apoptosis and to interpret and unify discrepancies in results based on it. Therefore, initially, we will describe studies performed on identifying the effect of ELF-EMF on induction/inhibition of apoptosis and enumerate proposed pathways through which ELF-EMF exposure may affect apoptosis; then, we will explain cellular stress response and cues for its induction in response to ELF-EMF exposure; and finally, we will explain why such controversies have been observed by different investigators. Open access paper: onlinelibrary.wiley.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 typereview

Effect directionmixed

PopulationNot supplied

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureELF

Evidence strengthInsufficientConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

This review summarizes studies on non-ionizing, non-thermal extremely low-frequency electromagnetic/magnetic fields (ELF-EMF/ELF-MF) and apoptosis. It reports that ELF-EMF exposure alone generally shows very low or no statistically significant changes in apoptosis, while ELF-EMF combined with co-stressors (e.g., chemotherapeutic agents or ionizing radiation) may either potentiate or inhibit the co-stressor’s apoptotic effects; the authors propose cellular stress responses as a framework to interpret these discrepancies.

Outcomes measured

Apoptosis modulation (induction/inhibition)
Cellular stress response

Limitations

Narrative review; methods for study identification/selection are not described in the abstract
No specific exposure parameters (frequency, intensity, duration) are provided in the abstract
No quantitative synthesis or effect size estimates are reported in the abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "review",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": null,
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Apoptosis modulation (induction/inhibition)",
    "Cellular stress response"
  ],
  "main_findings": "This review summarizes studies on non-ionizing, non-thermal extremely low-frequency electromagnetic/magnetic fields (ELF-EMF/ELF-MF) and apoptosis. It reports that ELF-EMF exposure alone generally shows very low or no statistically significant changes in apoptosis, while ELF-EMF combined with co-stressors (e.g., chemotherapeutic agents or ionizing radiation) may either potentiate or inhibit the co-stressor’s apoptotic effects; the authors propose cellular stress responses as a framework to interpret these discrepancies.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Narrative review; methods for study identification/selection are not described in the abstract",
    "No specific exposure parameters (frequency, intensity, duration) are provided in the abstract",
    "No quantitative synthesis or effect size estimates are reported in the abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "insufficient",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "ELF-EMF",
    "ELF-MF",
    "extremely low-frequency",
    "non-ionizing",
    "non-thermal",
    "apoptosis",
    "cellular stress response",
    "co-stressor",
    "chemotherapeutic agent",
    "ionizing radiation",
    "cancer"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "occupational-exposure",
      "weight": 0.2,
      "reason": "Discusses ELF-EMF/ELF-MF exposure broadly; specific setting not stated."
    }
  ]
}

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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: 10.1111/cpr.13154
PubMed: Not supplied

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