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[A preliminary study on role of acid sphingomyelinase in receptor clustering induced by 50-Hz magnetic fields].

Zhonghua lao dong wei sheng zhi ye bing za zhi = Zhonghua laodong weisheng zhiyebing zazhi = Chinese journal of industrial hygiene and occupational diseases · 2009 · Harm · Low evidence

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HarmLow evidencePaper 3366

In human amnion (FL) cells, both EGF treatment and 50-Hz magnetic field exposure (0.4 mT, 15 min) induced EGFR clustering. Imipramine pretreatment (A-SMase inhibitor) eliminated the magnetic-field-induced clustering, and subsequent ceramide incubation after i…

Study snapshot

PublicationZhonghua lao dong wei sheng zhi ye bing za zhi = Zhonghua laodong weisheng zhiyebing zazhi = Chinese journal of industrial hygiene and occupational diseases · 2009
Study typein_vitro
Reported directionHarm
Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship among a 50-Hz MF-induced epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) clustering, acid sphingomyelinase (A-SMase) and ceramide (CER), and to explore the possible mechanism of receptor clustering. METHODS: Human amnion (FL) cells were exposed to a 50-Hz sinusoidal magnetic field at 0.4 mT for 15 min with or without imipramine, a specific inhibitor of A-SMase and ceramide pretreatment. EGF treatment served as the positive control and DMSO treatment served as the solvent control. The EGFR was labeled with polyclonal anti-EGFR antibody and the clustering of EGFR was analyzed using immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy. The percentage of cells with EGFR clustering was counted and compared. RESULTS: Both EGF treatment and 50-Hz MF exposure could induce EGFR clustering. However, the effect could be eliminated by imipramine pretreatment for 4 hours. When FL cells were incubated with ceramide following the imipramine pretreatment for 30 min, EGFR clustering induced by 50-Hz MF exposure could be recovered. CONCLUSION: EGFR clustering induced by 50-Hz MF depends on A-SMase activity, and ceramide, as the hydrolyzate from A-SMase might participate in the process of EGFR clustering.

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
PopulationNot supplied
Sample sizeNot supplied
ExposureELF · 0.05 MHz · 15 min
Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

In human amnion (FL) cells, both EGF treatment and 50-Hz magnetic field exposure (0.4 mT, 15 min) induced EGFR clustering. Imipramine pretreatment (A-SMase inhibitor) eliminated the magnetic-field-induced clustering, and subsequent ceramide incubation after imipramine restored clustering induced by magnetic field exposure.

Outcomes measured

  • EGFR clustering (immunofluorescence/confocal microscopy; % cells with clustering)
  • Role of acid sphingomyelinase (A-SMase) activity in EGFR clustering
  • Effect of ceramide on EGFR clustering after A-SMase inhibition

Limitations

  • In vitro cell study; findings may not generalize to humans
  • Sample size not reported in abstract
  • Short exposure duration (15 min)
  • Outcome is a cellular signaling/structural endpoint (EGFR clustering), not a clinical health outcome
View raw extracted JSON
{
  "study_type": "in_vitro",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": 0.05,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "15 min"
  },
  "population": null,
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "EGFR clustering (immunofluorescence/confocal microscopy; % cells with clustering)",
    "Role of acid sphingomyelinase (A-SMase) activity in EGFR clustering",
    "Effect of ceramide on EGFR clustering after A-SMase inhibition"
  ],
  "main_findings": "In human amnion (FL) cells, both EGF treatment and 50-Hz magnetic field exposure (0.4 mT, 15 min) induced EGFR clustering. Imipramine pretreatment (A-SMase inhibitor) eliminated the magnetic-field-induced clustering, and subsequent ceramide incubation after imipramine restored clustering induced by magnetic field exposure.",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [
    "In vitro cell study; findings may not generalize to humans",
    "Sample size not reported in abstract",
    "Short exposure duration (15 min)",
    "Outcome is a cellular signaling/structural endpoint (EGFR clustering), not a clinical health outcome"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "50-Hz magnetic field",
    "ELF MF",
    "0.4 mT",
    "EGFR clustering",
    "acid sphingomyelinase",
    "ceramide",
    "imipramine",
    "FL cells",
    "confocal microscopy"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "occupational-exposure",
      "weight": 0.35,
      "reason": "Published in an industrial hygiene/occupational diseases journal and involves 50-Hz magnetic field exposure relevant to workplace ELF MF contexts."
    }
  ]
}
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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: Not supplied
PubMed: 20137294

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