Semi-quantitative proteomics of mammalian cells upon short-term exposure to non-ionizing electromagnetic fields.

PloS one · 2017 · No effect · Moderate evidence

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No effectModerate evidencePaper 4930

Study snapshot

PublicationPloS one · 2017

Study typein_vitro

Reported directionNo effect

Evidence ratingModerate

Abstract

The potential effects of non-ionizing electromagnetic fields (EMFs), such as those emitted by power-lines (in extremely low frequency range), mobile cellular systems and wireless networking devices (in radio frequency range) on human health have been intensively researched and debated. However, how exposure to these EMFs may lead to biological changes underlying possible health effects is still unclear. To reveal EMF-induced molecular changes, unbiased experiments (without a priori focusing on specific biological processes) with sensitive readouts are required. We present the first proteome-wide semi-quantitative mass spectrometry analysis of human fibroblasts, osteosarcomas and mouse embryonic stem cells exposed to three types of non-ionizing EMFs (ELF 50 Hz, UMTS 2.1 GHz and WiFi 5.8 GHz). We performed controlled in vitro EMF exposures of metabolically labeled mammalian cells followed by reliable statistical analyses of differential protein- and pathway-level regulations using an array of established bioinformatics methods. Our results indicate that less than 1% of the quantitated human or mouse proteome responds to the EMFs by small changes in protein abundance. Further network-based analysis of the differentially regulated proteins did not detect significantly perturbed cellular processes or pathways in human and mouse cells in response to ELF, UMTS or WiFi exposure. In conclusion, our extensive bioinformatics analyses of semi-quantitative mass spectrometry data do not support the notion that the short-time exposures to non-ionizing EMFs have a consistent biologically significant bearing on mammalian cells in culture.

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 directionno_effect

PopulationHuman fibroblasts, human osteosarcoma cells, and mouse embryonic stem cells (cell culture)

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureELF and RF · short-time exposures (duration not specified)

Evidence strengthModerateConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Across exposures to ELF 50 Hz, UMTS 2.1 GHz, and WiFi 5.8 GHz, less than 1% of the quantitated human or mouse proteome showed small changes in protein abundance. Network-based analyses did not detect significantly perturbed cellular processes or pathways in response to ELF, UMTS, or WiFi exposure, and the authors conclude the data do not support consistent biologically significant effects from short-term exposure in cultured mammalian cells.

Outcomes measured

Proteome-wide protein abundance changes (semi-quantitative mass spectrometry)
Differentially regulated proteins
Pathway/network perturbations (bioinformatics analyses)

Limitations

Exposure duration not specified in the abstract
In vitro cell culture model; findings may not generalize to in vivo or human health outcomes
Changes observed were described as small and affecting <1% of the proteome (biological significance uncertain)

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "in_vitro",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF and RF",
    "source": "power-lines; mobile cellular systems (UMTS); WiFi",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "short-time exposures (duration not specified)"
  },
  "population": "Human fibroblasts, human osteosarcoma cells, and mouse embryonic stem cells (cell culture)",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Proteome-wide protein abundance changes (semi-quantitative mass spectrometry)",
    "Differentially regulated proteins",
    "Pathway/network perturbations (bioinformatics analyses)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Across exposures to ELF 50 Hz, UMTS 2.1 GHz, and WiFi 5.8 GHz, less than 1% of the quantitated human or mouse proteome showed small changes in protein abundance. Network-based analyses did not detect significantly perturbed cellular processes or pathways in response to ELF, UMTS, or WiFi exposure, and the authors conclude the data do not support consistent biologically significant effects from short-term exposure in cultured mammalian cells.",
  "effect_direction": "no_effect",
  "limitations": [
    "Exposure duration not specified in the abstract",
    "In vitro cell culture model; findings may not generalize to in vivo or human health outcomes",
    "Changes observed were described as small and affecting <1% of the proteome (biological significance uncertain)"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "moderate",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "non-ionizing electromagnetic fields",
    "ELF",
    "50 Hz",
    "UMTS",
    "2.1 GHz",
    "WiFi",
    "5.8 GHz",
    "proteomics",
    "mass spectrometry",
    "human fibroblasts",
    "osteosarcoma",
    "mouse embryonic stem cells",
    "bioinformatics",
    "pathway analysis"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "school-wi-fi",
      "weight": 0.32,
      "reason": "Includes WiFi (5.8 GHz) exposure in vitro."
    }
  ]
}

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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.0170762
PubMed: 28234898

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