Impact of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields on CD4 expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Molecular and cellular biochemistry · 1999 · Mixed · Low evidence

← Research stream

MixedLow evidencePaper 5361

Study snapshot

PublicationMolecular and cellular biochemistry · 1999

Study typein_vitro

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

There is increasing evidence suggesting that extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF) may influence several cell functions. Here the effects of ELF-EMF were studied on the expression of CD4+ cell surface receptors of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) using fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACScan). The expression of CD4+ in ELF-EMF exposed (24, 48 and 72 h) and not exposed PBMC were not statistically significant. In addition, a flow cytometric analysis was determined by using a fluorescent labeled antibody, at 24 and 72 h incubations. The amount of bound antibody was distributed with a slight difference in the ELF-EMF-exposed PBMC compared to the not exposed cells. Moreover, DNA CD4+ expression in PBMC strongly increased in exposed cells, resting and activated with Phytohaemaglutinin (PHA). When polymerase chain reaction was performed on CD4+ mRNA of PBMC an increase of CD4+ mRNA expression was found after the resting cells were exposed to ELF-EMF at 24 h compared to not exposed cells, while at 48 and 72 h no difference was found. In the cell cycle progression analysis, the PBMC exposed to ELF-EMF presented a significant increase of percentage expression of cell cycle progression in the S phase compared to not exposed cells; while in G1 and G2 phases, there were no differences. Our results provide new evidence that ELF-EMF can affect CD4+ expression in PBMC and describe an additional biological activity for ELF-EMF affecting CD4+ transcription and translation protein and the increase of the percentage expression of the cell cycle progression of the S phase.

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 directionmixed

PopulationHuman peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC)

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureELF · 24, 48 and 72 h

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

CD4+ cell surface receptor expression measured by FACScan was not statistically significantly different between ELF-EMF exposed and unexposed PBMC at 24, 48, and 72 h, though a slight difference in bound antibody distribution was noted at 24 and 72 h. CD4+ DNA expression was reported to strongly increase in exposed cells (resting and PHA-activated), and CD4+ mRNA increased at 24 h in resting cells but not at 48 or 72 h. Exposed PBMC showed a significant increase in the percentage of cells in S phase, with no differences in G1 or G2.

Outcomes measured

CD4+ cell surface receptor expression (flow cytometry/FACScan)
Bound anti-CD4 antibody distribution (flow cytometry)
CD4+ DNA expression
CD4+ mRNA expression (PCR)
Cell cycle progression (S, G1, G2 phases)

Limitations

Exposure parameters (e.g., frequency, field strength) not reported in the abstract
Sample size not reported in the abstract
In vitro study; generalizability to in vivo human health outcomes is unclear
Some results described qualitatively (e.g., 'slight difference') without quantitative detail in the abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "in_vitro",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "24, 48 and 72 h"
  },
  "population": "Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC)",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "CD4+ cell surface receptor expression (flow cytometry/FACScan)",
    "Bound anti-CD4 antibody distribution (flow cytometry)",
    "CD4+ DNA expression",
    "CD4+ mRNA expression (PCR)",
    "Cell cycle progression (S, G1, G2 phases)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "CD4+ cell surface receptor expression measured by FACScan was not statistically significantly different between ELF-EMF exposed and unexposed PBMC at 24, 48, and 72 h, though a slight difference in bound antibody distribution was noted at 24 and 72 h. CD4+ DNA expression was reported to strongly increase in exposed cells (resting and PHA-activated), and CD4+ mRNA increased at 24 h in resting cells but not at 48 or 72 h. Exposed PBMC showed a significant increase in the percentage of cells in S phase, with no differences in G1 or G2.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Exposure parameters (e.g., frequency, field strength) not reported in the abstract",
    "Sample size not reported in the abstract",
    "In vitro study; generalizability to in vivo human health outcomes is unclear",
    "Some results described qualitatively (e.g., 'slight difference') without quantitative detail in the abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "extremely low frequency",
    "ELF-EMF",
    "CD4",
    "peripheral blood mononuclear cells",
    "PBMC",
    "flow cytometry",
    "FACScan",
    "PCR",
    "mRNA expression",
    "cell cycle",
    "S phase",
    "phytohaemaglutinin",
    "PHA"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": []
}

AI can be wrong. Always verify against the paper.

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: 10.1023/a:1007004316433
PubMed: 10630622

Read the original paper →

Related papers

← Back to the Research Library