Electromagnetic fields may act via calcineurin inhibition to suppress immunity, thereby increasing risk for opportunistic infection: Conceivable mechanisms of action

2017 · Unclear · Insufficient evidence

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UnclearInsufficient evidencePaper 2378

Study snapshot

Publicationmanual · 2017

Study typereview

Reported directionUnclear

Evidence ratingInsufficient

Abstract

Electromagnetic fields may act via calcineurin inhibition to suppress immunity, thereby increasing risk for opportunistic infection: Conceivable mechanisms of action Doyon, PR, Johansson O. Electromagnetic fields may act via calcineurin inhibition to suppress immunity, thereby increasing risk for opportunistic infection: Conceivable mechanisms of action. Med Hypotheses. 106:71-87. Sep 2017. doi.org rights and content Abstract While a good number of studies have demonstrated that modern, man-made ambient electromagnetic fields can have both stimulatory and inhibitory effect on immune system function, the precise mechanisms have yet to be completely elucidated. It is hypothesized here that, depending on the parameters, one of the means by which long-term electromagnetic field exposure has the potential to eventually lead to immunosuppression is via downstream inhibition of the enzyme calcineurin - a protein phosphatase, which activates the T-cells of the immune system and can be blocked by pharmaceutical agents. Calcineurin is the target of a class of pharmaceuticals called calcineurin inhibitors (e.g., cyclosporine, pimecrolimus and tacrolimus). When organ transplant recipients take such pharmaceuticals to prevent or suppress organ transplant rejection, one of the major side effects is immunosuppression leading to increased risk of opportunistic infection: e.g., fungal, viral (Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus), atypical bacterial (Nocardia, Listeria, mycobacterial, mycoplasma), and parasitic (e.g., toxoplasmosis) infections. Frequent anecdotal reports, as well as a number of scientific studies, have shown that electromagnetic field exposures may indeed produce the same effect: a weakened immune system leading to an increase in the same or similar opportunistic infections: i.e., fungal, viral, atypical bacterial, and parasitic infections. Furthermore, numerous research studies have shown that man-made electromagnetic fields have the potential to open voltage-gated calcium channels, which can in turn produce a pathological increase of intracellular calcium, leading downstream to the pathological production of a series of reactive oxygen species. Finally, there are a number of research studies demonstrating the inhibition of calcineurin by a pathological production of reactive oxygen species. Hence, it is hypothesized here that exposures to electromagnetic fields have the potential to inhibit immune system response by means of an eventual pathological increase in the influx of calcium into the cytoplasm of the cell, which induces a pathological production of reactive oxygen species, which in turn can have an inhibitory effect on calcineurin. Calcineurin inhibition leads to immunosuppression, which in turn leads to a weakened immune system and an increase in opportunistic infection. sciencedirect.com

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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 directionunclear

PopulationNot supplied

Sample sizeNot supplied

Exposurelong-term

Evidence strengthInsufficientConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

This article proposes a hypothesis that long-term exposure to man-made ambient electromagnetic fields could lead to immunosuppression via a pathway involving voltage-gated calcium channel activation, increased intracellular calcium, reactive oxygen species production, and downstream inhibition of calcineurin, potentially increasing risk of opportunistic infections. It notes that studies have reported both stimulatory and inhibitory immune effects and mentions anecdotal reports and scientific studies suggesting weakened immunity and increased opportunistic infections with EMF exposure.

Outcomes measured

immune system function (stimulatory/inhibitory effects)
immunosuppression
opportunistic infections (fungal, viral, atypical bacterial, parasitic)
calcineurin inhibition (hypothesized mechanism)
voltage-gated calcium channel opening (proposed)
intracellular calcium increase (proposed)
reactive oxygen species production (proposed)

Limitations

Hypothesis/mechanism-focused article; does not report original experimental or epidemiologic results in the abstract
Exposure characteristics (frequency, intensity/SAR, specific sources) not specified in the abstract
Relies in part on anecdotal reports as described in the abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "review",
  "exposure": {
    "band": null,
    "source": "modern, man-made ambient electromagnetic fields",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "long-term"
  },
  "population": null,
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "immune system function (stimulatory/inhibitory effects)",
    "immunosuppression",
    "opportunistic infections (fungal, viral, atypical bacterial, parasitic)",
    "calcineurin inhibition (hypothesized mechanism)",
    "voltage-gated calcium channel opening (proposed)",
    "intracellular calcium increase (proposed)",
    "reactive oxygen species production (proposed)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "This article proposes a hypothesis that long-term exposure to man-made ambient electromagnetic fields could lead to immunosuppression via a pathway involving voltage-gated calcium channel activation, increased intracellular calcium, reactive oxygen species production, and downstream inhibition of calcineurin, potentially increasing risk of opportunistic infections. It notes that studies have reported both stimulatory and inhibitory immune effects and mentions anecdotal reports and scientific studies suggesting weakened immunity and increased opportunistic infections with EMF exposure.",
  "effect_direction": "unclear",
  "limitations": [
    "Hypothesis/mechanism-focused article; does not report original experimental or epidemiologic results in the abstract",
    "Exposure characteristics (frequency, intensity/SAR, specific sources) not specified in the abstract",
    "Relies in part on anecdotal reports as described in the abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "insufficient",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "electromagnetic fields",
    "EMF",
    "immune system",
    "immunosuppression",
    "opportunistic infection",
    "calcineurin",
    "calcineurin inhibitors",
    "voltage-gated calcium channels",
    "intracellular calcium",
    "reactive oxygen species"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": []
}

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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.mehy.2017.06.028get
PubMed: Not supplied

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