Immune response of mollusk Onchidium struma to extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF, 50 Hz) exposure based on immune-related enzyme activity and De novo transcriptome analysis.

Fish & shellfish immunology · 2020 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 5655

Study snapshot

PublicationFish & shellfish immunology · 2020

Study typeanimal

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Along with rapid offshore and onshore wind power development in modern society, extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF) is produced extensively in the habits of aquatic organisms. However, the biological effects of ELF-EMF on aquatic organisms are almost sparse. In this study, Onchidium struma without shell was chosen to aim whether ELF-EMF can elicit immune response of mollusk based on immune-related enzyme activities and gene expression through high-throughput transcriptome sequencing. Three experimental groups, i.e. ELF-EMF unexposed control group (C), ELF-EMF (50 Hz, 100 μT) exposed E1 group, and ELF-EMF (50 Hz, 500 μT) exposed E2 group, were set, and coelomocytes were collected to analyze. The results showed that total coelomocyte and spherulocyte density in E1 group increased significantly compared to groups C and E2 (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences on amoebocyte and chromatocyte density among groups C, E1 and E2. ELF-EMF exposure could significantly increase immune-related enzyme activities in coelomic fluid of O. struma, including acidic phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, antioxidative capacity, catalase, superoxide dismutase, and polyphenol oxidase (P < 0.05). A total of 54.32 Mb and 55.27 Mb raw reads with average length of 1520 bp were obtained from coelomocytes of O. struma in unexposed and exposed groups, respectively. There were 341 differentially expressed genes (DGEs) between unexposed and exposed groups, including 209 up-regulated and 132 down-regulated unigenes. All the DGEs were allocated to 14 Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways, and five pathways were associated with immune response, including TLR/TNF/NOD-like receptor/MAPK/Fc epsilon RI signaling pathways. Altogether, short-term (to one week) exposure of O. struma to lower luxy density ELF-EMF (<500 μT) could elicit the immune response, and antioxidant system is recommended as indicators of immunological effects. Hopefully, this study will further provide insights into exploring biomarker for evaluation of the effect of ELF-EMF exposure on aquatic organisms regarding to field density, frequency and exposure duration, and provide good guidance for exploitation and utilization of renewable energy.

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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

PopulationMollusk Onchidium struma (shell-less)

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureELF · 0.05 MHz · short-term (to one week)

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Compared with unexposed controls, the 50 Hz ELF-EMF exposed groups showed significantly increased immune-related enzyme activities in coelomic fluid (multiple enzymes/antioxidant measures; P<0.05). Total coelomocyte and spherulocyte density increased significantly in the 100 μT group versus control and 500 μT, while amoebocyte and chromatocyte densities did not differ among groups. Transcriptome analysis identified 341 differentially expressed genes between unexposed and exposed groups, with immune-related KEGG pathways represented.

Outcomes measured

Coelomocyte density (total coelomocyte, spherulocyte, amoebocyte, chromatocyte)
Immune-related enzyme activities in coelomic fluid (acidic phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, antioxidative capacity, catalase, superoxide dismutase, polyphenol oxidase)
Differential gene expression in coelomocytes (de novo transcriptome)
KEGG pathway enrichment; immune-related pathways (TLR, TNF, NOD-like receptor, MAPK, Fc epsilon RI signaling)

Limitations

Sample size not reported in abstract
Exposure duration described generally ("short-term (to one week)") without exact schedule
Transcriptome comparison described as between unexposed and exposed groups without specifying whether both exposure levels were analyzed separately
Animal model (mollusk) limits direct generalization to humans

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": 0.05,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "short-term (to one week)"
  },
  "population": "Mollusk Onchidium struma (shell-less)",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Coelomocyte density (total coelomocyte, spherulocyte, amoebocyte, chromatocyte)",
    "Immune-related enzyme activities in coelomic fluid (acidic phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, antioxidative capacity, catalase, superoxide dismutase, polyphenol oxidase)",
    "Differential gene expression in coelomocytes (de novo transcriptome)",
    "KEGG pathway enrichment; immune-related pathways (TLR, TNF, NOD-like receptor, MAPK, Fc epsilon RI signaling)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Compared with unexposed controls, the 50 Hz ELF-EMF exposed groups showed significantly increased immune-related enzyme activities in coelomic fluid (multiple enzymes/antioxidant measures; P<0.05). Total coelomocyte and spherulocyte density increased significantly in the 100 μT group versus control and 500 μT, while amoebocyte and chromatocyte densities did not differ among groups. Transcriptome analysis identified 341 differentially expressed genes between unexposed and exposed groups, with immune-related KEGG pathways represented.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Sample size not reported in abstract",
    "Exposure duration described generally (\"short-term (to one week)\") without exact schedule",
    "Transcriptome comparison described as between unexposed and exposed groups without specifying whether both exposure levels were analyzed separately",
    "Animal model (mollusk) limits direct generalization to humans"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "ELF-EMF",
    "50 Hz",
    "100 μT",
    "500 μT",
    "Onchidium struma",
    "mollusk",
    "coelomocytes",
    "immune response",
    "enzyme activity",
    "antioxidant system",
    "transcriptome",
    "differentially expressed genes",
    "KEGG",
    "TLR",
    "TNF",
    "NOD-like receptor",
    "MAPK",
    "Fc epsilon RI"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "renewable-energy-emf",
      "weight": 0.62,
      "reason": "Abstract frames ELF-EMF exposure as arising from offshore/onshore wind power development affecting aquatic organisms."
    }
  ]
}

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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: 10.1016/j.fsi.2020.01.062
PubMed: 32014586

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