Cellular Response to ELF-MF and Heat: Evidence for a Common Involvement of Heat Shock Proteins?

2017 · Mixed · Low evidence

← Research stream

MixedLow evidencePaper 2225

Study snapshot

Publicationmanual · 2017

Study typereview

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Cellular Response to ELF-MF and Heat: Evidence for a Common Involvement of Heat Shock Proteins? Zeni O, Simkó M, Rosaria Scarfi M, Mattsson MO.Cellular Response to ELF-MF and Heat: Evidence for a Common Involvement of Heat Shock Proteins? Public Health, 18 October 2017 | doi.org It has been shown that magnetic fields in the extremely low frequency range (ELF-MF) can act as a stressor in various in vivo or in vitro systems, at flux density levels below those inducing excitation of nerve and muscle cells, which are setting the limits used by most generally accepted exposure guidelines, such as the ones published by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection. In response to a variety of physiological and environmental factors, including heat, cells activate an ancient signaling pathway leading to the transient expression of heat shock proteins (HSPs), which exhibit sophisticated protection mechanisms. A number of studies suggest that also ELF-MF exposure can activate the cellular stress response and cause increased HSPs expression, both on the mRNA and the protein levels. In this review, we provide some of the presently available data on cellular responses, especially regarding HSP expression, due to single and combined exposure to ELF-MF and heat, with the aim to compare the induced effects and to detect possible common modes of action. Some evidence suggest that MF and heat can act as costressors inducing a kind of thermotolerance in cell cultures and in organisms. The MF exposure might produce a potentiated or synergistic biological response such as an increase in HSPs expression, in combination with a well-defined stress, and in turn exert beneficial effects during certain circumstances. Open Access Paper: frontiersin.org

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 strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

This review summarizes available data suggesting ELF magnetic field (ELF-MF) exposure can activate cellular stress responses, including increased heat shock protein (HSP) expression at mRNA and protein levels, and compares effects of ELF-MF and heat alone and in combination. It reports that some evidence suggests ELF-MF and heat may act as costressors, potentially producing potentiated/synergistic responses (e.g., increased HSP expression) and thermotolerance in cell cultures and organisms.

Outcomes measured

heat shock protein (HSP) expression
cellular stress response
thermotolerance (costressor effects with heat)

Limitations

Narrative review summarizing "some" and "a number of" studies; strength/consistency of evidence across studies is not quantified in the abstract
Exposure parameters (frequency, flux density, duration) and study designs are not specified in the abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "review",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": "other",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": null,
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "heat shock protein (HSP) expression",
    "cellular stress response",
    "thermotolerance (costressor effects with heat)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "This review summarizes available data suggesting ELF magnetic field (ELF-MF) exposure can activate cellular stress responses, including increased heat shock protein (HSP) expression at mRNA and protein levels, and compares effects of ELF-MF and heat alone and in combination. It reports that some evidence suggests ELF-MF and heat may act as costressors, potentially producing potentiated/synergistic responses (e.g., increased HSP expression) and thermotolerance in cell cultures and organisms.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Narrative review summarizing \"some\" and \"a number of\" studies; strength/consistency of evidence across studies is not quantified in the abstract",
    "Exposure parameters (frequency, flux density, duration) and study designs are not specified in the abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "ELF-MF",
    "extremely low frequency magnetic fields",
    "heat",
    "heat shock proteins",
    "HSP",
    "cellular stress response",
    "thermotolerance",
    "costressor",
    "ICNIRP"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "who-icnirp",
      "weight": 0.6,
      "reason": "Abstract explicitly references ICNIRP exposure guidelines for ELF magnetic fields."
    }
  ]
}

AI can be wrong. Always verify against the paper.

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: 10.3389/fpubh.2017.00280
PubMed: Not supplied

Read the original paper →

Related papers

← Back to the Research Library