Exposure of rats to extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF) alters cytokines production.

Electromagnetic biology and medicine · 2013 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 4502

Study snapshot

PublicationElectromagnetic biology and medicine · 2013

Study typeanimal

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Investigations indicate a potential link between exposure to extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field (ELF-EMF) and some cancers. Carcinogenesis of ELF-EMF may be mediated by effect on the immune system. During an immune response, naïve T cells differentiate to effector type 1 helper T cells (T(H)1), T(H)2, or T(H)17 subsets according to existence of different cytokines and T(H)1 is important in defense against tumors. Therefore, it will be reasonable to test whether ELF-EMF can change cytokines like interferon gamma (IFN-γ), interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-6, and IL-12 that regulate T(H)1/T(H)2/T(H)17 balance. Forty adult male rats were randomly separated into ELF-EMF-exposed and sham-exposed control groups. The ELF-EMF group was exposed to a flux density of 100 μT, frequency 50 Hz, 2 h/day for 3 months. The controls were placed in identical chamber without ELF-EMF. The results showed there were no significant differences between the mean mass of rats, thymuses, and spleens in ELF-EMF exposed group compared with controls. Serum IL-12 level was decreased from 418 ± 47 pg/ml in controls to 300 ± 23 pg/ml (p < 0.05) in ELF-EMF-exposed group. Phytohemagglutinin activated of in vitro production of IL-6 by the whole spleen culture (1356 ± 92 pg/ml) and total blood culture (418 ± 40 pg/ml) of ELF-EMF-exposed rats were higher (p < 0.001) comparing with controls (905 ± 74 pg/ml), (182 ± 26 pg/ml), respectively. However, the levels of IFN-γ, IL-4, and IL-6 of serum and IFN-γ, IL-4, and IL-12 in spleen culture and total blood culture of two groups were not significantly different. It seems that ELF-EMF may change T(H)1/T(H)2/T(H)17 balance toward down regulation of T(H)1 and upregulation T(H)17 type responses.

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AI evidence extraction

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Study typeanimal

Effect directionmixed

PopulationForty adult male rats

Sample size40

ExposureELF · 0.05 MHz · 2 h/day for 3 months

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Rats exposed to 50 Hz ELF-EMF at 100 μT for 2 h/day for 3 months showed no significant differences in body, thymus, or spleen mass versus sham controls. Serum IL-12 was lower in exposed rats (300±23 pg/ml) than controls (418±47 pg/ml; p<0.05), and phytohemagglutinin-stimulated IL-6 production was higher in spleen and blood cultures from exposed rats (p<0.001), while several other cytokine measures (including IFN-γ and IL-4) were not significantly different.

Outcomes measured

Serum cytokines (IL-12, IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-6)
In vitro cytokine production in whole spleen culture and total blood culture (IL-6, IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-12) after phytohemagglutinin activation
Body mass
Thymus mass
Spleen mass

Limitations

Only adult male rats were studied
Some outcomes showed no significant differences while others did, suggesting outcome-specific effects
In vitro cytokine production assays may not directly reflect in vivo immune function

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": 0.05,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "2 h/day for 3 months"
  },
  "population": "Forty adult male rats",
  "sample_size": 40,
  "outcomes": [
    "Serum cytokines (IL-12, IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-6)",
    "In vitro cytokine production in whole spleen culture and total blood culture (IL-6, IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-12) after phytohemagglutinin activation",
    "Body mass",
    "Thymus mass",
    "Spleen mass"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Rats exposed to 50 Hz ELF-EMF at 100 μT for 2 h/day for 3 months showed no significant differences in body, thymus, or spleen mass versus sham controls. Serum IL-12 was lower in exposed rats (300±23 pg/ml) than controls (418±47 pg/ml; p<0.05), and phytohemagglutinin-stimulated IL-6 production was higher in spleen and blood cultures from exposed rats (p<0.001), while several other cytokine measures (including IFN-γ and IL-4) were not significantly different.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Only adult male rats were studied",
    "Some outcomes showed no significant differences while others did, suggesting outcome-specific effects",
    "In vitro cytokine production assays may not directly reflect in vivo immune function"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "ELF-EMF",
    "50 Hz",
    "100 μT",
    "rats",
    "cytokines",
    "IL-12",
    "IL-6",
    "IFN-γ",
    "IL-4",
    "T(H)1",
    "T(H)2",
    "T(H)17",
    "immune system"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "elf-emf",
      "weight": 0.9,
      "reason": "Animal experiment with extremely low-frequency EMF exposure (50 Hz, 100 μT) assessing immune/cytokine outcomes."
    }
  ]
}

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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: 10.3109/15368378.2012.692343
PubMed: 23046051

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