Proteomic analysis on the alteration of protein expression in the early-stage placental villous tissue of electromagnetic fields associated with cell phone exposure.

Reproductive sciences (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) · 2013 · Harm · Very low evidence

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HarmVery low evidencePaper 4621

Compared with a sham-exposed group, up to 15 protein spots showed significant changes (at least 2- to 2.5-fold up or down) after exposure. Twelve proteins were identified among the changed spots (including procollagen-proline, eukaryotic translation elongatio…

Study snapshot

PublicationReproductive sciences (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) · 2013

Study typeother

Reported directionHarm

Evidence ratingVery low

Abstract

BACKGROUND: To explore the possible adverse effects and search for cell phone electromagnetic field (EMF)-responsive proteins in human early reproduction, a proteomics approach was employed to investigate the changes in protein expression profile induced by cell phone EMF in human chorionic tissues of early pregnancy in vivo. METHODS: Volunteer women about 50 days pregnant were exposed to EMF at the average absorption rate of 1.6 to 8.8 W/kg for 1 hour with the irradiation device placed 10 cm away from the umbilicus at the midline of the abdomen. The changes in protein profile were examined using 2-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE). RESULTS: Up to 15 spots have yielded significant change at least 2- to 2.5-folds up or down compared to sham-exposed group. Twelve proteins were identified- procollagen-proline, eukaryotic translation elongation factor 1 delta, chain D crystal structure of human vitamin D-binding protein, thioredoxin-like 3, capping protein, isocitrate dehydrogenase 3 alpha, calumenin, Catechol-O-methyltransferase protein, proteinase inhibitor 6 (PI-6; SerpinB6) protein, 3,2-trans-enoyl-CoA isomerase protein, chain B human erythrocyte 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate mutase, and nucleoprotein. CONCLUSION: Cell phone EMF might alter the protein profile of chorionic tissue of early pregnancy, during the most sensitive stage of the embryos. The exposure to EMF may cause adverse effects on cell proliferation and development of nervous system in early embryos. Furthermore, 2-DE coupled with mass spectrometry is a promising approach to elucidate the effects and search for new biomarkers for environmental toxic effects.

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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 typeother

Effect directionharm

PopulationVolunteer women about 50 days pregnant (early pregnancy); chorionic/placental villous tissue examined in vivo

Sample sizeNot supplied

Exposure1 hour

Evidence strengthVery lowConfidence: 66% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Outcomes measured

Changes in protein expression profile in chorionic (placental villous) tissue assessed by 2-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE)
Identification of EMF-responsive proteins (via 2-DE coupled with mass spectrometry)

Limitations

Sample size not reported in the abstract
Exposure frequency and other signal characteristics not reported
Clinical or developmental outcomes were not measured; findings are limited to proteomic changes
Details on randomization/blinding and statistical methods are not provided in the abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "other",
  "exposure": {
    "band": null,
    "source": "mobile phone",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "1 hour"
  },
  "population": "Volunteer women about 50 days pregnant (early pregnancy); chorionic/placental villous tissue examined in vivo",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Changes in protein expression profile in chorionic (placental villous) tissue assessed by 2-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE)",
    "Identification of EMF-responsive proteins (via 2-DE coupled with mass spectrometry)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Compared with a sham-exposed group, up to 15 protein spots showed significant changes (at least 2- to 2.5-fold up or down) after exposure. Twelve proteins were identified among the changed spots (including procollagen-proline, eukaryotic translation elongation factor 1 delta, vitamin D-binding protein, thioredoxin-like 3, and others).",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [
    "Sample size not reported in the abstract",
    "Exposure frequency and other signal characteristics not reported",
    "Clinical or developmental outcomes were not measured; findings are limited to proteomic changes",
    "Details on randomization/blinding and statistical methods are not provided in the abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "very_low",
  "confidence": 0.66,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "cell phone",
    "electromagnetic field",
    "EMF",
    "pregnancy",
    "early pregnancy",
    "chorionic tissue",
    "placental villous tissue",
    "proteomics",
    "2-DE",
    "mass spectrometry",
    "SAR"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "pregnancy-prenatal-exposure",
      "weight": 0.86,
      "reason": "In vivo exposure of pregnant women (~50 days) with outcomes measured in chorionic/placental tissue."
    },
    {
      "slug": "mobile-phones-rf",
      "weight": 0.78,
      "reason": "Exposure described as cell phone EMF with SAR values and a sham-exposed comparison."
    }
  ]
}

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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: 10.1177/1933719112473660
PubMed: 23420827

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