A short-term extremely low frequency electromagnetic field exposure increases circulating leukocyte numbers and affects HPA-axis signaling in mice.

Bioelectromagnetics · 2016 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 4829

ELF-EMF exposure (20–5000 Hz; 10 μT) increased leukocyte counts in the short-term experiment for the 24 h/day exposed group versus controls, mainly due to increased neutrophils and CD4± lymphocytes; this was not observed in the long-term experiment. In the sh…

Study snapshot

PublicationBioelectromagnetics · 2016

Study typeanimal

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

There is still uncertainty whether extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF) can induce health effects like immunomodulation. Despite evidence obtained in vitro, an unambiguous association has not yet been established in vivo. Here, mice were exposed to ELF-EMF for 1, 4, and 24 h/day in a short-term (1 week) and long-term (15 weeks) set-up to investigate whole body effects on the level of stress regulation and immune response. ELF-EMF signal contained multiple frequencies (20-5000 Hz) and a magnetic flux density of 10 μT. After exposure, blood was analyzed for leukocyte numbers (short-term and long-term) and adrenocorticotropic hormone concentration (short-term only). Furthermore, in the short-term experiment, stress-related parameters, corticotropin-releasing hormone, proopiomelanocortin (POMC) and CYP11A1 gene-expression, respectively, were determined in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus, pituitary, and adrenal glands. In the short-term but not long-term experiment, leukocyte counts were significantly higher in the 24 h-exposed group compared with controls, mainly represented by increased neutrophils and CD4 ± lymphocytes. POMC expression and plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone were significantly lower compared with unexposed control mice. In conclusion, short-term ELF-EMF exposure may affect hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activation in mice. Changes in stress hormone release may explain changes in circulating leukocyte numbers and composition. Bioelectromagnetics. 37:433-443, 2016. © 2016 The Authors. Bioelectromagnetics Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

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 typeanimal

Effect directionmixed

PopulationMice

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureELF · 1, 4, or 24 h/day; short-term 1 week and long-term 15 weeks

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Outcomes measured

Circulating leukocyte counts and composition (neutrophils, CD4± lymphocytes)
Plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) concentration
Stress-related gene expression: corticotropin-releasing hormone (hypothalamic PVN), proopiomelanocortin (POMC; pituitary), CYP11A1 (adrenal glands)

Limitations

Sample size not reported in provided abstract/metadata
Exposure source and detailed dosimetry beyond frequency range and magnetic flux density not described in provided abstract/metadata
ACTH measured in short-term experiment only
Findings differed between short-term and long-term setups (effect not observed long-term)

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "1, 4, or 24 h/day; short-term 1 week and long-term 15 weeks"
  },
  "population": "Mice",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Circulating leukocyte counts and composition (neutrophils, CD4± lymphocytes)",
    "Plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) concentration",
    "Stress-related gene expression: corticotropin-releasing hormone (hypothalamic PVN), proopiomelanocortin (POMC; pituitary), CYP11A1 (adrenal glands)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "ELF-EMF exposure (20–5000 Hz; 10 μT) increased leukocyte counts in the short-term experiment for the 24 h/day exposed group versus controls, mainly due to increased neutrophils and CD4± lymphocytes; this was not observed in the long-term experiment. In the short-term experiment, POMC expression and plasma ACTH were significantly lower than in unexposed controls.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Sample size not reported in provided abstract/metadata",
    "Exposure source and detailed dosimetry beyond frequency range and magnetic flux density not described in provided abstract/metadata",
    "ACTH measured in short-term experiment only",
    "Findings differed between short-term and long-term setups (effect not observed long-term)"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "extremely low frequency",
    "ELF-EMF",
    "20-5000 Hz",
    "10 μT",
    "mice",
    "leukocytes",
    "neutrophils",
    "CD4 lymphocytes",
    "HPA axis",
    "ACTH",
    "POMC",
    "stress regulation",
    "immune response"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "occupational-exposure",
      "weight": 0.2,
      "reason": "ELF-EMF exposure relevant to ELF contexts, but no specific occupational setting stated."
    }
  ]
}

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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.21998
PubMed: 27553635

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