mTOR Activation by PI3K/Akt and ERK Signaling in Short ELF-EMF Exposed Human Keratinocytes.

PloS one · 2015 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 4739

In HaCaT human keratinocytes, short exposure to ELF-EMF (50 Hz, 1 mT) modulated gene expression patterns related to cell proliferation and the cell cycle. The study reports mTOR activation as a main molecular target, with increased PI3K/Akt pathway activity a…

Study snapshot

PublicationPloS one · 2015

Study typein_vitro

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Several reports suggest that ELF-EMF exposures interact with biological processes including promotion of cell proliferation. However, the molecular mechanisms by which ELF-EMF controls cell growth are not completely understood. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of ELF-EMF on keratinocytes proliferation and molecular mechanisms involved. Effect of ELF-EMF (50 Hz, 1 mT) on HaCaT cell cycle and cells growth and viability was monitored by FACS analysis and BrdU assay. Gene expression profile by microarray and qRT-PCR validation was performed in HaCaT cells exposed or not to ELF-EMF. mTOR, Akt and MAPKs expressions were evaluated by Western blot analysis. In HaCaT cells, short ELF-EMF exposure modulates distinct patterns of gene expression involved in cell proliferation and in the cell cycle. mTOR activation resulted the main molecular target of ELF-EMF on HaCaT cells. Our data showed the increase of the canonical pathway of mTOR regulation (PI3K/Akt) and activation of ERK signaling pathways. Our results indicate that ELF-EMF selectively modulated the expression of multiple genes related to pivotal biological processes and functions that play a key role in physio-pathological mechanisms such as wound healing.

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 directionmixed

PopulationNot supplied

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureELF · 0.05 MHz · short

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Outcomes measured

Keratinocyte (HaCaT) cell cycle
Cell growth/proliferation
Cell viability
Gene expression changes (microarray; qRT-PCR validation)
mTOR activation/expression
Akt (PI3K/Akt pathway) activation/expression
MAPKs/ERK signaling activation/expression

Limitations

In vitro study in a single human keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT)
Exposure duration described only as "short" (no specific timing provided in abstract)
No sample size or number of experimental replicates reported in abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "in_vitro",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": 0.05,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "short"
  },
  "population": null,
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Keratinocyte (HaCaT) cell cycle",
    "Cell growth/proliferation",
    "Cell viability",
    "Gene expression changes (microarray; qRT-PCR validation)",
    "mTOR activation/expression",
    "Akt (PI3K/Akt pathway) activation/expression",
    "MAPKs/ERK signaling activation/expression"
  ],
  "main_findings": "In HaCaT human keratinocytes, short exposure to ELF-EMF (50 Hz, 1 mT) modulated gene expression patterns related to cell proliferation and the cell cycle. The study reports mTOR activation as a main molecular target, with increased PI3K/Akt pathway activity and activation of ERK signaling.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "In vitro study in a single human keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT)",
    "Exposure duration described only as \"short\" (no specific timing provided in abstract)",
    "No sample size or number of experimental replicates reported in abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "ELF-EMF",
    "50 Hz",
    "1 mT",
    "HaCaT",
    "keratinocytes",
    "cell proliferation",
    "cell cycle",
    "microarray",
    "qRT-PCR",
    "mTOR",
    "PI3K/Akt",
    "ERK",
    "MAPK"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "elf-emf",
      "weight": 0.9,
      "reason": "Study examines biological effects of extremely low frequency EMF (50 Hz) exposure."
    },
    {
      "slug": "in-vitro-studies",
      "weight": 0.75,
      "reason": "Cell culture (HaCaT keratinocytes) experimental study."
    }
  ]
}

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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: 10.1371/journal.pone.0139644
PubMed: 26431550

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