Calcium signalling in human neutrophil cell lines is not affected by low-frequency electromagnetic fields.

Bioelectromagnetics · 2015 · No effect · Low evidence

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No effectLow evidencePaper 4770

Calcium mobilisation upon chemotactic stimulation was not altered after short (30 min) or long-term low-frequency EMF exposure in HL-60 or PLB-985 cells. Two waveforms (Immunent and 50 Hz sine wave) at 5, 300, and 500 µT did not change calcium signalling, cal…

Study snapshot

PublicationBioelectromagnetics · 2015

Study typein_vitro

Reported directionNo effect

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

We are increasingly exposed to low-frequency electromagnetic fields (LF EMFs) by electrical devices and power lines, but if and how these fields interact with living cells remains a matter of debate. This study aimed to investigate the potential effect of LF EMF exposure on calcium signalling in neutrophils. In neutrophilic granulocytes, activation of G-protein coupled receptors leads to efflux of calcium from calcium stores and influx of extracellular calcium via specialised calcium channels. The cytoplasmic rise of calcium induces cytoskeleton rearrangements, modified gene expression patterns, and cell migration. If LF EMF modulates intracellular calcium signalling, this will influence cellular behaviour and may eventually lead to health problems. We found that calcium mobilisation upon chemotactic stimulation was not altered after a short 30 min or long-term LF EMF exposure in human neutrophil-like cell lines HL-60 or PLB-985. Neither of the two investigated wave forms (Immunent and 50 Hz sine wave) at three magnetic flux densities (5 μT, 300 μT, and 500 μT) altered calcium signalling in vitro. Gene-expression patterns of calcium-signalling related genes also did not show any significant changes after exposure. Furthermore, analysis of the phenotypical appearance of microvilli by scanning electron microscopy revealed no alterations induced by LF EMF exposure. The findings above indicate that exposure to 50 Hz sinusoidal or Immunent LF EMF will not affect calcium signalling in neutrophils in vitro.

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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 directionno_effect

PopulationHuman neutrophil-like cell lines (HL-60, PLB-985)

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureELF · 30 min (short) and long-term (duration not specified)

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Outcomes measured

Calcium mobilisation upon chemotactic stimulation (calcium signalling)
Gene-expression patterns of calcium-signalling related genes
Phenotypical appearance of microvilli (scanning electron microscopy)

Limitations

Study conducted in vitro using neutrophil-like cell lines rather than primary human neutrophils or in vivo models
Long-term exposure duration is not specified in the abstract
Sample size and statistical power are not reported in the abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "in_vitro",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": "electrical devices and power lines",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "30 min (short) and long-term (duration not specified)"
  },
  "population": "Human neutrophil-like cell lines (HL-60, PLB-985)",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Calcium mobilisation upon chemotactic stimulation (calcium signalling)",
    "Gene-expression patterns of calcium-signalling related genes",
    "Phenotypical appearance of microvilli (scanning electron microscopy)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Calcium mobilisation upon chemotactic stimulation was not altered after short (30 min) or long-term low-frequency EMF exposure in HL-60 or PLB-985 cells. Two waveforms (Immunent and 50 Hz sine wave) at 5, 300, and 500 µT did not change calcium signalling, calcium-signalling related gene expression, or microvilli appearance.",
  "effect_direction": "no_effect",
  "limitations": [
    "Study conducted in vitro using neutrophil-like cell lines rather than primary human neutrophils or in vivo models",
    "Long-term exposure duration is not specified in the abstract",
    "Sample size and statistical power are not reported in the abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "ELF EMF",
    "low-frequency electromagnetic fields",
    "50 Hz",
    "Immunent",
    "magnetic flux density",
    "5 µT",
    "300 µT",
    "500 µT",
    "calcium signalling",
    "neutrophils",
    "HL-60",
    "PLB-985",
    "gene expression",
    "microvilli",
    "in vitro"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "who-icnirp",
      "weight": 0.2,
      "reason": "Addresses biological effects of ELF EMF exposure relevant to health risk discussions, though not a policy paper."
    }
  ]
}

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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: 10.1002/bem.21924
PubMed: 26073662

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