Wireless control of cellular function by activation of a novel protein responsive to electromagnetic fields.

Scientific reports · 2018 · Benefit · Insufficient evidence

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BenefitInsufficient evidencePaper 5531

Study snapshot

PublicationScientific reports · 2018

Study typeanimal

Reported directionBenefit

Evidence ratingInsufficient

Abstract

The Kryptopterus bicirrhis (glass catfish) is known to respond to electromagnetic fields (EMF). Here we tested its avoidance behavior in response to static and alternating magnetic fields stimulation. Using expression cloning we identified an electromagnetic perceptive gene (EPG) from the K. bicirrhis encoding a protein that responds to EMF. This EPG gene was cloned and expressed in mammalian cells, neuronal cultures and in rat's brain. Immunohistochemistry showed that the expression of EPG is confined to the mammalian cell membrane. Calcium imaging in mammalian cells and cultured neurons expressing EPG demonstrated that remote activation by EMF significantly increases intracellular calcium concentrations, indicative of cellular excitability. Moreover, wireless magnetic activation of EPG in rat motor cortex induced motor evoked responses of the contralateral forelimb in vivo. Here we report on the development of a new technology for remote, non-invasive modulation of cell function.

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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 directionbenefit

PopulationKryptopterus bicirrhis (glass catfish); mammalian cells and neuronal cultures expressing EPG; rats (in vivo motor cortex expression)

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureNot supplied

Evidence strengthInsufficientConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Expression cloning identified an electromagnetic perceptive gene (EPG) from glass catfish that encodes a protein responsive to EMF. In mammalian cells and cultured neurons expressing EPG, remote activation by EMF significantly increased intracellular calcium concentrations, and wireless magnetic activation of EPG in rat motor cortex induced contralateral forelimb motor evoked responses in vivo.

Outcomes measured

Avoidance behavior in response to static and alternating magnetic field stimulation (glass catfish)
Identification of an electromagnetic perceptive gene (EPG) encoding a protein responsive to EMF
Cell membrane localization of EPG (immunohistochemistry)
Intracellular calcium concentration changes in mammalian cells and cultured neurons expressing EPG (calcium imaging)
Motor evoked responses of contralateral forelimb after wireless magnetic activation of EPG in rat motor cortex (in vivo)

Limitations

No exposure parameters (field strength, frequency, waveform, duration) reported in the abstract
Sample sizes and statistical details not provided in the abstract
Primarily a technology/functional demonstration; generalizability beyond the engineered expression system is not established in the abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": null,
    "source": "other",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": "Kryptopterus bicirrhis (glass catfish); mammalian cells and neuronal cultures expressing EPG; rats (in vivo motor cortex expression)",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Avoidance behavior in response to static and alternating magnetic field stimulation (glass catfish)",
    "Identification of an electromagnetic perceptive gene (EPG) encoding a protein responsive to EMF",
    "Cell membrane localization of EPG (immunohistochemistry)",
    "Intracellular calcium concentration changes in mammalian cells and cultured neurons expressing EPG (calcium imaging)",
    "Motor evoked responses of contralateral forelimb after wireless magnetic activation of EPG in rat motor cortex (in vivo)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Expression cloning identified an electromagnetic perceptive gene (EPG) from glass catfish that encodes a protein responsive to EMF. In mammalian cells and cultured neurons expressing EPG, remote activation by EMF significantly increased intracellular calcium concentrations, and wireless magnetic activation of EPG in rat motor cortex induced contralateral forelimb motor evoked responses in vivo.",
  "effect_direction": "benefit",
  "limitations": [
    "No exposure parameters (field strength, frequency, waveform, duration) reported in the abstract",
    "Sample sizes and statistical details not provided in the abstract",
    "Primarily a technology/functional demonstration; generalizability beyond the engineered expression system is not established in the abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "insufficient",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "electromagnetic fields",
    "magnetic fields",
    "static magnetic field",
    "alternating magnetic field",
    "glass catfish",
    "Kryptopterus bicirrhis",
    "electromagnetic perceptive gene",
    "EPG",
    "expression cloning",
    "cell membrane",
    "calcium imaging",
    "neuronal cultures",
    "rat motor cortex",
    "wireless activation",
    "remote modulation"
  ],
  "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: 10.1038/s41598-018-27087-9
PubMed: 29884813

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