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Short cycles of both static and pulsed electromagnetic fields have no effect on the induction of cytokines by peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Bioelectromagnetics · 1997 · No effect · Low evidence

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No effectLow evidencePaper 5406

PBMC proliferative responses (both unstimulated and phytohemagglutinin-stimulated) were not distinguishable from unexposed controls after short-cycle static and pulsed EMF exposure. IL-2, IFN-γ, and TNF-α increased during the first 48 hours of incubation but …

Study snapshot

PublicationBioelectromagnetics · 1997
Study typein_vitro
Reported directionNo effect
Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

We evaluated the effect of short cycles of static and pulsed electromagnetic field exposure on the eventual activation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The cells were subjected to three 15-min cycles of EMF, each exposure being followed by 105 min without a field, for a total of 6 hr. The results clearly demonstrate that the proliferative responses of both normal cells and cells stimulated with 1 microg/ml phytohemagglutinin were not distinguishable from control cells not exposed to EMF. Moreover, although the production of interleukin-2, interferon gamma and tumor necrosis factor alpha increased during the first 48 hr of incubation, the values remained unchanged with respect to controls. This indicates that brief exposure to an electromagnetic field has no significant effect on peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The comparison between biological activity and the cytokine antigen present in our samples indicated that the recovery of antigen corresponded to an equal recovery of biological activity, suggesting the absence of either qualitative differences in these proteins or the impairment of transcriptional and translational processes.

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
PopulationPeripheral blood mononuclear cells (normal and phytohemagglutinin-stimulated)
Sample sizeNot supplied
ExposureThree 15-min cycles of static and pulsed EMF exposure, each followed by 105 min without field (total 6 hr)
Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

PBMC proliferative responses (both unstimulated and phytohemagglutinin-stimulated) were not distinguishable from unexposed controls after short-cycle static and pulsed EMF exposure. IL-2, IFN-γ, and TNF-α increased during the first 48 hours of incubation but remained unchanged relative to controls, indicating no significant EMF effect under these conditions.

Outcomes measured

  • PBMC proliferative response
  • Interleukin-2 (IL-2) production
  • Interferon gamma (IFN-γ) production
  • Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) production
  • Cytokine antigen recovery vs biological activity (qualitative differences/impairment of transcription/translation)

Limitations

  • No EMF parameters (e.g., field strength, frequency) reported in the abstract
  • In vitro study; relevance to in vivo human exposure not addressed in the abstract
  • Sample size and donor characteristics not reported in the abstract
View raw extracted JSON
{
  "study_type": "in_vitro",
  "exposure": {
    "band": null,
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "Three 15-min cycles of static and pulsed EMF exposure, each followed by 105 min without field (total 6 hr)"
  },
  "population": "Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (normal and phytohemagglutinin-stimulated)",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "PBMC proliferative response",
    "Interleukin-2 (IL-2) production",
    "Interferon gamma (IFN-γ) production",
    "Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) production",
    "Cytokine antigen recovery vs biological activity (qualitative differences/impairment of transcription/translation)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "PBMC proliferative responses (both unstimulated and phytohemagglutinin-stimulated) were not distinguishable from unexposed controls after short-cycle static and pulsed EMF exposure. IL-2, IFN-γ, and TNF-α increased during the first 48 hours of incubation but remained unchanged relative to controls, indicating no significant EMF effect under these conditions.",
  "effect_direction": "no_effect",
  "limitations": [
    "No EMF parameters (e.g., field strength, frequency) reported in the abstract",
    "In vitro study; relevance to in vivo human exposure not addressed in the abstract",
    "Sample size and donor characteristics not reported in the abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "static electromagnetic field",
    "pulsed electromagnetic field",
    "short cycles",
    "peripheral blood mononuclear cells",
    "PBMC",
    "proliferation",
    "phytohemagglutinin",
    "cytokines",
    "interleukin-2",
    "interferon gamma",
    "tumor necrosis factor alpha"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": []
}
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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/(sici)1521-186x(1997)18:8<548::aid-bem3>3.0.co;2-2
PubMed: 9383243

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