No effects of intermittent 50 Hz EMF on cytoplasmic free calcium and on the mitochondrial membrane potential in human diploid fibroblasts.

Radiation and environmental biophysics · 2004 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 5219

Human diploid fibroblasts exposed intermittently to 50 Hz, 1000 microT ELF-EMF showed a highly significant increase in DNA strand breaks (comet assay) compared with sham exposure, but no observed effect on intracellular free calcium ([Ca2+]i) or on mitochondr…

Study snapshot

PublicationRadiation and environmental biophysics · 2004

Study typein_vitro

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

The recently described increase in DNA strand breaks of cultured human diploid fibroblasts after intermittent exposure to extremely-low-frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF) of more than about 70 microT ELF-EMF is difficult to explain by a direct induction of covalent bond disruption. Therefore the hypothesis has been tested that ELF-EMF-induced DNA strand breaks might be mediated by cellular processes that cause alteration of the intracellular concentration of free calcium ([Ca2+]i) and/or the membrane potential (DeltaPsi(m)). [Ca2+]i was determined by the ratiometric fura-2 technique. Changes in DeltaPsi(m) were assessed by using the potential-dependent lipophilic cationic probe JC-1. Human fibroblasts were exposed to intermittent ELF-EMF (50 Hz, 1000 microT). Although exposure of fiboblasts to ELF-EMF resulted in a highly significant increase in DNA strand breaks as determined by the comet assay, no effect on JC-1 fluorescence emission or on [Ca2+]i has been observed when comparing exposed with sham-exposed cells. Therefore, it is suggested that ELF-EMF-induced DNA strand breaks are unlikely to be caused by intracellular changes that affect [Ca2+]i and/or DeltaPsi(m).

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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 directionmixed

PopulationCultured human diploid fibroblasts

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureELF · intermittent

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Outcomes measured

Intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i)
Mitochondrial membrane potential (DeltaPsi(m))
DNA strand breaks (comet assay)

Limitations

Exposure duration not specified in the abstract
Sample size not reported in the abstract
In vitro model; generalizability to in vivo/humans not addressed in the abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "in_vitro",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "intermittent"
  },
  "population": "Cultured human diploid fibroblasts",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i)",
    "Mitochondrial membrane potential (DeltaPsi(m))",
    "DNA strand breaks (comet assay)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Human diploid fibroblasts exposed intermittently to 50 Hz, 1000 microT ELF-EMF showed a highly significant increase in DNA strand breaks (comet assay) compared with sham exposure, but no observed effect on intracellular free calcium ([Ca2+]i) or on mitochondrial membrane potential (JC-1 fluorescence emission).",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Exposure duration not specified in the abstract",
    "Sample size not reported in the abstract",
    "In vitro model; generalizability to in vivo/humans not addressed in the abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "ELF-EMF",
    "50 Hz",
    "1000 microT",
    "human diploid fibroblasts",
    "comet assay",
    "DNA strand breaks",
    "intracellular calcium",
    "mitochondrial membrane potential",
    "fura-2",
    "JC-1"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "elf-emf",
      "weight": 0.9,
      "reason": "Intermittent 50 Hz extremely-low-frequency EMF exposure in cultured cells."
    }
  ]
}

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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: 10.1007/s00411-004-0252-9
PubMed: 15340854

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