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Reactive oxygen species mediates 50-Hz magnetic field-induced EGF receptor clustering via acid sphingomyelinase activation

2018 · Harm · Low evidence

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HarmLow evidencePaper 2144

In FL cells, 50-Hz magnetic field exposure at 0.4 mT for 15 min increased intracellular ROS levels, induced EGFR clustering, and increased ASMase activity. Pretreatment with ROS scavengers (N-acetyl-L-cysteine or pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate) counteracted the …

Study snapshot

Publicationmanual · 2018
Study typein_vitro
Reported directionHarm
Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Reactive oxygen species mediates 50-Hz magnetic field-induced EGF receptor clustering via acid sphingomyelinase activation Sun L, Chen L, Bai L, Xia Y, Yang X, Jiang W, Sun W. Reactive oxygen species mediates 50-Hz magnetic field- induced EGF receptor clustering via acid sphingomyelinase activation. Int J Radiat Biol. 2018 Apr 16:1-19. doi: 10.1080/09553002.2018.1466208. Abstract PURPOSE: Exposure to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-MFs) could elicit biological effects including carcinogenesis. However, the detailed mechanisms by which these ELF-MFs interact with biological system are currently unclear. Previously, we found that a 50-Hz magnetic field (MF) exposure could induce epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) clustering and phosphorylation on cell membranes. In the present experiment, the possible roles of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in MF-induced EGFR clustering were investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Human amnion epithelial (FL) cells were exposed to a 50-Hz MF with or without N- acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) or pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC). EGFR clustering on cellular membrane surface was analyzed using confocal microscopy after indirect immunofluorescence staining. The intracellular ROS level and acid sphingomyelinase (ASMase) activity were detected using a reactive oxygen species assay kit and an Amplex(r) Red Sphingomyelinase Assay Kit, respectively. RESULTS: Results showed that exposure of FL cells to a 50-Hz MF at 0.4 mT for 15 min significantly enhanced the ROS level, induced EGFR clustering and increased ASMase activity. However, pretreatment with NAC or PDTC, the scavenger of ROS, not only counteracted the effects of a 50-Hz MF on ROS level and AMS activity, but also inhibited the EGFR clustering induced by MF exposure. CONCLUSION: Based on present and previous data, it suggests that ROS mediates the MF-induced EGFR clustering via ASMase activation. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

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
PopulationHuman amnion epithelial (FL) cells
Sample sizeNot supplied
ExposureELF · 0.05 MHz · 15 min
Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

In FL cells, 50-Hz magnetic field exposure at 0.4 mT for 15 min increased intracellular ROS levels, induced EGFR clustering, and increased ASMase activity. Pretreatment with ROS scavengers (N-acetyl-L-cysteine or pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate) counteracted the MF-associated increases in ROS and ASMase activity and inhibited MF-induced EGFR clustering.

Outcomes measured

  • Reactive oxygen species (ROS) level
  • EGF receptor (EGFR) clustering on cell membrane
  • Acid sphingomyelinase (ASMase) activity

Limitations

  • Cell culture (in vitro) model; generalizability to humans not addressed in abstract
  • Sample size not reported in abstract
  • Only one exposure condition (0.4 mT, 15 min) described in abstract
View raw extracted JSON
{
  "study_type": "in_vitro",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": 0.05,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "15 min"
  },
  "population": "Human amnion epithelial (FL) cells",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Reactive oxygen species (ROS) level",
    "EGF receptor (EGFR) clustering on cell membrane",
    "Acid sphingomyelinase (ASMase) activity"
  ],
  "main_findings": "In FL cells, 50-Hz magnetic field exposure at 0.4 mT for 15 min increased intracellular ROS levels, induced EGFR clustering, and increased ASMase activity. Pretreatment with ROS scavengers (N-acetyl-L-cysteine or pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate) counteracted the MF-associated increases in ROS and ASMase activity and inhibited MF-induced EGFR clustering.",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [
    "Cell culture (in vitro) model; generalizability to humans not addressed in abstract",
    "Sample size not reported in abstract",
    "Only one exposure condition (0.4 mT, 15 min) described in abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "extremely low frequency",
    "ELF-MF",
    "50 Hz",
    "magnetic field",
    "0.4 mT",
    "reactive oxygen species",
    "ROS",
    "EGFR clustering",
    "EGFR phosphorylation",
    "acid sphingomyelinase",
    "ASMase",
    "N-acetyl-L-cysteine",
    "pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate",
    "FL cells",
    "confocal microscopy"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "occupational-exposure",
      "weight": 0.25,
      "reason": "Study involves ELF (50 Hz) magnetic field exposure, which is relevant to occupational ELF-MF contexts, though this is an in vitro mechanistic study."
    }
  ]
}
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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: 10.1080/09553002.2018.1466208
PubMed: Not supplied

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