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Effect of 50 Hz Extremely Low-Frequency Electromagnetic Fields on the DNA Methylation and DNA Methyltransferases in Mouse Spermatocyte-Derived Cell Line GC-2.

BioMed research international · 2015 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 4752

In GC-2 cells exposed to 50 Hz ELF-EMF, genome-wide methylation decreased at 1 mT but was higher at 3 mT versus controls. DNMT1 and DNMT3b expression decreased at 1 mT and increased at 3 mT, while DNMT3a expression was reported to be little influenced.

Study snapshot

PublicationBioMed research international · 2015
Study typein_vitro
Reported directionMixed
Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Previous studies have shown that the male reproductive system is one of the most sensitive organs to electromagnetic radiation. However, the biological effects and molecular mechanism are largely unclear. Our study was designed to elucidate the epigenetic effects of 50 Hz ELF-EMF in vitro. Mouse spermatocyte-derived GC-2 cell line was exposed to 50 Hz ELF-EMF (5 min on and 10 min off) at magnetic field intensity of 1 mT, 2 mT, and 3 mT with an intermittent exposure for 72 h. We found that 50 Hz ELF-EMF exposure decreased genome-wide methylation at 1 mT, but global methylation was higher at 3 mT compared with the controls. The expression of DNMT1 and DNMT3b was decreased at 1 mT, and 50 Hz ELF-EMF can increase the expression of DNMT1 and DNMT3b of GC-2 cells at 3 mT. However, 50 Hz ELF-EMF had little influence on the expression of DNMT3a. Then, we established DNA methylation and gene expression profiling and validated some genes with aberrant DNA methylation and expression at different intensity of 50 Hz ELF-EMF. These results suggest that the alterations of genome-wide methylation and DNMTs expression may play an important role in the biological effects of 50 Hz ELF-EMF exposure.

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
PopulationMouse spermatocyte-derived cell line (GC-2)
Sample sizeNot supplied
ExposureELF · 0.05 MHz · Intermittent exposure (5 min on/10 min off) for 72 h at 1, 2, and 3 mT
Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

In GC-2 cells exposed to 50 Hz ELF-EMF, genome-wide methylation decreased at 1 mT but was higher at 3 mT versus controls. DNMT1 and DNMT3b expression decreased at 1 mT and increased at 3 mT, while DNMT3a expression was reported to be little influenced.

Outcomes measured

  • Genome-wide/global DNA methylation
  • DNMT1 expression
  • DNMT3a expression
  • DNMT3b expression
  • DNA methylation profiling
  • Gene expression profiling

Limitations

  • In vitro cell-line study (mouse spermatocyte-derived GC-2), limiting direct inference to in vivo male reproductive outcomes
  • Sample size and replication details not provided in the abstract
  • Exposure conditions are intermittent and limited to 72 h; longer-term effects not addressed
  • Results vary by field intensity (non-monotonic), complicating interpretation
View raw extracted JSON
{
  "study_type": "in_vitro",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": 0.05,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "Intermittent exposure (5 min on/10 min off) for 72 h at 1, 2, and 3 mT"
  },
  "population": "Mouse spermatocyte-derived cell line (GC-2)",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Genome-wide/global DNA methylation",
    "DNMT1 expression",
    "DNMT3a expression",
    "DNMT3b expression",
    "DNA methylation profiling",
    "Gene expression profiling"
  ],
  "main_findings": "In GC-2 cells exposed to 50 Hz ELF-EMF, genome-wide methylation decreased at 1 mT but was higher at 3 mT versus controls. DNMT1 and DNMT3b expression decreased at 1 mT and increased at 3 mT, while DNMT3a expression was reported to be little influenced.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "In vitro cell-line study (mouse spermatocyte-derived GC-2), limiting direct inference to in vivo male reproductive outcomes",
    "Sample size and replication details not provided in the abstract",
    "Exposure conditions are intermittent and limited to 72 h; longer-term effects not addressed",
    "Results vary by field intensity (non-monotonic), complicating interpretation"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "50 Hz",
    "ELF-EMF",
    "extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields",
    "mouse spermatocyte",
    "GC-2 cell line",
    "DNA methylation",
    "DNMT1",
    "DNMT3a",
    "DNMT3b",
    "epigenetics",
    "male reproductive system"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": []
}
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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: 10.1155/2015/237183
PubMed: 26339596

Read the original paper →

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