Coupling Mechanism of Electromagnetic Field and Thermal Stress on Drosophila melanogaster.

PloS one · 2016 · Harm · Low evidence

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HarmLow evidencePaper 4828

Study snapshot

PublicationPloS one · 2016

Study typeanimal

Reported directionHarm

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Temperature is an important factor in research on the biological effects of extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field (ELF-EMF), but interactions between ELF-EMF and temperature remain unknown. The effects of ELF-EMF (50 Hz, 3 mT) on the lifespan, locomotion, heat shock response (HSR), and oxidative stress (OS) of Canton-Special (CS) and mutant w1118 flies were investigated at 25°C and 35°C (thermal stress). Results showed that thermal stress accelerated the death rates of CS and w1118 flies, shortened their lifespan, and influenced their locomotion rhythm and activity. The upregulated expression levels of heat shock protein (HSP) 22, HSP26, and HSP70 indicated that HSR was enhanced. Thermal stress-induced OS response increased malondialdehyde content, enhanced superoxide dismutase activity, and decreased reactive oxygen species level. The effects of thermal stress on the death rates, lifespan, locomotion, and HSP gene expression of flies, especially w1118 line, were also enhanced by ELF-EMF. In conclusion, thermal stress weakened the physiological function and promoted the HSR and OS of flies. ELF-EMF aggravated damages and enhanced thermal stress-induced HSP and OS response. Therefore, thermal stress and ELF-EMF elicited a synergistic effect.

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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 typeanimal

Effect directionharm

PopulationDrosophila melanogaster (Canton-Special and mutant w1118 flies)

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureELF · 5e-05 MHz

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

In flies studied at 25°C and under thermal stress at 35°C, thermal stress shortened lifespan, accelerated death rates, altered locomotion, and increased heat shock protein expression and oxidative stress responses. ELF-EMF exposure (50 Hz, 3 mT) enhanced the effects of thermal stress on death rates, lifespan, locomotion, and HSP gene expression (notably in w1118), and was described as aggravating damage and enhancing thermal stress-induced HSP and oxidative stress responses, suggesting a synergistic effect.

Outcomes measured

lifespan
death rate
locomotion rhythm/activity
heat shock response (HSP22, HSP26, HSP70 expression)
oxidative stress markers (malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase activity, reactive oxygen species)

Limitations

Exposure duration not reported in abstract
Sample size not reported in abstract
Details of exposure setup/sham control not described in abstract
Quantitative effect sizes and statistical details not provided in abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": 5e-05,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": "Drosophila melanogaster (Canton-Special and mutant w1118 flies)",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "lifespan",
    "death rate",
    "locomotion rhythm/activity",
    "heat shock response (HSP22, HSP26, HSP70 expression)",
    "oxidative stress markers (malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase activity, reactive oxygen species)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "In flies studied at 25°C and under thermal stress at 35°C, thermal stress shortened lifespan, accelerated death rates, altered locomotion, and increased heat shock protein expression and oxidative stress responses. ELF-EMF exposure (50 Hz, 3 mT) enhanced the effects of thermal stress on death rates, lifespan, locomotion, and HSP gene expression (notably in w1118), and was described as aggravating damage and enhancing thermal stress-induced HSP and oxidative stress responses, suggesting a synergistic effect.",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [
    "Exposure duration not reported in abstract",
    "Sample size not reported in abstract",
    "Details of exposure setup/sham control not described in abstract",
    "Quantitative effect sizes and statistical details not provided in abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "ELF-EMF",
    "50 Hz",
    "3 mT",
    "thermal stress",
    "35°C",
    "Drosophila melanogaster",
    "lifespan",
    "locomotion",
    "heat shock response",
    "HSP22",
    "HSP26",
    "HSP70",
    "oxidative stress",
    "malondialdehyde",
    "superoxide dismutase",
    "reactive oxygen species",
    "synergistic effect"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "elf-emf",
      "weight": 0.9,
      "reason": "Study investigates biological effects of extremely low-frequency EMF at 50 Hz."
    },
    {
      "slug": "thermal-stress-interactions",
      "weight": 0.75,
      "reason": "Focuses on interaction/synergy between ELF-EMF exposure and thermal stress (35°C)."
    }
  ]
}

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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.0162675
PubMed: 27611438

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