Effect of Extremely Low Frequency Electromagnetic Fields on Expression of T-bet and GATA-3 Genes and Serum Interferon-γ and Interleukin-4.

Journal of interferon & cytokine research : the official journal of the International Society for Interferon and Cytokine Research · 2019 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 5508

In the spleen, T-bet and GATA-3 mRNA expression decreased in rats exposed to 50 Hz fields at 1 and 100 μT. Serum IFN-γ and IL-4 levels were significantly decreased in the 100 μT group only at the prestimulation phase (day 31, before HSA), with no decrease rep…

Study snapshot

PublicationJournal of interferon & cytokine research : the official journal of the International Society for Interferon and Cytokine Research · 2019

Study typeanimal

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of various magnetic flux densities of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF) on expression of T-box transcription factor (T-bet) and GATA binding protein-3 (GATA-3) genes in the spleen and thymus of rats injected with human serum albumin (HSA). Moreover, serum levels of interferon (IFN)-γ and interleukin (IL)-4 were evaluated at two phases, that is, prestimulation and poststimulation with HSA. Eighty rats were separated into five groups, and four groups were exposed daily to 50 Hz EMF of 1, 100, 500, and 2000 μT magnetic flux densities for 60 days. To activate the immune system, 100 μg HSA was intraperitoneally injected into each rat on days 31, 44, and 58 of the regimen. Splenic and thymic T-bet and GATA-3 messenger RNA (mRNA) expression on day 61 was evaluated by reverse transcription quantitative PCR. Serum IFN-γ and IL-4 (in blood on day 31 before HSA and again on day 61) levels were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Expression of T-bet and GATA-3 mRNA was decreased in the spleen in hosts exposed to densities of 1 and 100 μT. Serum IFN-γ and IL-4 levels were also significantly decreased in 100 μT-exposed rats, but only at the prestimulation phase. From these findings, it appears that (30 and 60 days) ELF-EMF exposure could suppress the expression of some key genes associated with T helper (Th) cells and on some of their associated functions, that is, the ability to generate (in some cases, spontaneously) select cytokines. Whether this is attributable to effects on Th1/Th2 levels in the hosts and/or due to potential effects of the EMF on cellular functions remains to be determined.

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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 typeanimal

Effect directionmixed

PopulationRats injected intraperitoneally with human serum albumin (HSA)

Sample size80

ExposureELF · 0.05 MHz · Daily exposure for 60 days (with immune stimulation on days 31, 44, 58)

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Outcomes measured

Splenic T-bet mRNA expression
Splenic GATA-3 mRNA expression
Thymic T-bet mRNA expression
Thymic GATA-3 mRNA expression
Serum interferon-γ (IFN-γ) levels (prestimulation and poststimulation with HSA)
Serum interleukin-4 (IL-4) levels (prestimulation and poststimulation with HSA)

Limitations

Animal study; applicability to humans not established
Exposure source/setup details not described in the abstract
Findings varied by tissue (spleen vs thymus not clearly reported) and by exposure level (effects noted at 1 and 100 μT, not described for 500 and 2000 μT)
Cytokine changes reported only at prestimulation phase; poststimulation results not detailed
Mechanism not determined (authors note uncertainty regarding Th1/Th2 levels vs cellular effects)

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": 0.05,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "Daily exposure for 60 days (with immune stimulation on days 31, 44, 58)"
  },
  "population": "Rats injected intraperitoneally with human serum albumin (HSA)",
  "sample_size": 80,
  "outcomes": [
    "Splenic T-bet mRNA expression",
    "Splenic GATA-3 mRNA expression",
    "Thymic T-bet mRNA expression",
    "Thymic GATA-3 mRNA expression",
    "Serum interferon-γ (IFN-γ) levels (prestimulation and poststimulation with HSA)",
    "Serum interleukin-4 (IL-4) levels (prestimulation and poststimulation with HSA)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "In the spleen, T-bet and GATA-3 mRNA expression decreased in rats exposed to 50 Hz fields at 1 and 100 μT. Serum IFN-γ and IL-4 levels were significantly decreased in the 100 μT group only at the prestimulation phase (day 31, before HSA), with no decrease reported poststimulation.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Animal study; applicability to humans not established",
    "Exposure source/setup details not described in the abstract",
    "Findings varied by tissue (spleen vs thymus not clearly reported) and by exposure level (effects noted at 1 and 100 μT, not described for 500 and 2000 μT)",
    "Cytokine changes reported only at prestimulation phase; poststimulation results not detailed",
    "Mechanism not determined (authors note uncertainty regarding Th1/Th2 levels vs cellular effects)"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "ELF-EMF",
    "50 Hz",
    "magnetic flux density",
    "microtesla",
    "T-bet",
    "GATA-3",
    "IFN-γ",
    "IL-4",
    "Th1/Th2",
    "spleen",
    "thymus",
    "rat",
    "human serum albumin"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "occupational-exposure",
      "weight": 0.25,
      "reason": "Study uses ELF (50 Hz) magnetic-field exposures at microtesla levels, relevant to general ELF exposure contexts including occupational settings."
    }
  ]
}

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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: 10.1089/jir.2018.0105
PubMed: 30562132

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