Extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields affect proliferation and mitochondrial activity of human cancer cell lines.

International journal of radiation biology · 2015 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 4717

Study snapshot

PublicationInternational journal of radiation biology · 2015

Study typein_vitro

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

PURPOSE: To date, the effects of electromagnetic fields on cell metabolism have been overlooked. The objective of the present study was to investigate the influence of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF) over mitochondrial metabolism and the consequent impact on cancer cell growth. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The effects of ELF-EMF on cancer growth were investigated in several human cancer cell lines by crystal violet assay. The modulation of mitochondrial activity was assessed by cytofluorimetric evaluation of membrane potential and by real-time quantification of mitochondrial transcription. Moreover the expression of several mitochondrial proteins and their levels in the organelle were evaluated. RESULTS: The long-term exposure to ELF-EMF reduced the proliferation of several cancer cell lines and the effect was associated to an increased mitochondrial activity without evident changes in ATP levels. The results of our experiments excluded a transcriptional modulation of mitochondrial respiratory complexes, rather suggesting that ELF-EMF increased the energy demand. The altered mitochondrial metabolism led to changes in mitochondrial protein profile. In fact we found a downregulated expression of mitochondrial phospho-ERK, p53 and cytochrome c. CONCLUSION: The results of the present study indicate that ELF-EMF can negatively modulate cancer cell growth increasing respiratory activity of cells and altering mitochondrial protein expression.

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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 typein_vitro

Effect directionmixed

PopulationSeveral human cancer cell lines

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureELF · long-term exposure

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Long-term exposure to ELF-EMF reduced proliferation of several human cancer cell lines and was associated with increased mitochondrial activity without evident changes in ATP levels. The authors report no transcriptional modulation of mitochondrial respiratory complexes and observed changes in mitochondrial protein profile, including downregulated mitochondrial phospho-ERK, p53, and cytochrome c.

Outcomes measured

Cancer cell proliferation/growth (crystal violet assay)
Mitochondrial membrane potential (cytofluorimetry)
Mitochondrial transcription (real-time quantification)
ATP levels
Expression/levels of mitochondrial proteins (including phospho-ERK, p53, cytochrome c)

Limitations

In vitro study in human cancer cell lines; findings may not translate to in vivo or human health outcomes
Exposure parameters (e.g., frequency, field strength) not provided in the abstract
Sample size and number/types of cell lines not specified in the abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "in_vitro",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "long-term exposure"
  },
  "population": "Several human cancer cell lines",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Cancer cell proliferation/growth (crystal violet assay)",
    "Mitochondrial membrane potential (cytofluorimetry)",
    "Mitochondrial transcription (real-time quantification)",
    "ATP levels",
    "Expression/levels of mitochondrial proteins (including phospho-ERK, p53, cytochrome c)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Long-term exposure to ELF-EMF reduced proliferation of several human cancer cell lines and was associated with increased mitochondrial activity without evident changes in ATP levels. The authors report no transcriptional modulation of mitochondrial respiratory complexes and observed changes in mitochondrial protein profile, including downregulated mitochondrial phospho-ERK, p53, and cytochrome c.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "In vitro study in human cancer cell lines; findings may not translate to in vivo or human health outcomes",
    "Exposure parameters (e.g., frequency, field strength) not provided in the abstract",
    "Sample size and number/types of cell lines not specified in the abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "extremely low frequency",
    "ELF-EMF",
    "electromagnetic fields",
    "cancer cell lines",
    "proliferation",
    "mitochondria",
    "mitochondrial activity",
    "membrane potential",
    "ATP",
    "mitochondrial transcription",
    "phospho-ERK",
    "p53",
    "cytochrome c"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "elf-emf",
      "weight": 0.9,
      "reason": "Study explicitly investigates extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF) effects on cells."
    },
    {
      "slug": "mechanisms-mitochondria",
      "weight": 0.75,
      "reason": "Primary focus is mitochondrial metabolism/activity and mitochondrial protein expression changes."
    }
  ]
}

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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: 10.3109/09553002.2015.1101648
PubMed: 26762464

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