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It is the Frequency that Matters: Effects of Electromagnetic Fields on the Release and Content of Extracellular Vesicles.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology · 2023 · Mixed · Very low evidence

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MixedVery low evidencePaper 5780

Using a 3D bioreactor system and a custom EMF stimulation device, the authors report that electrical stimulations with physiological-level current amplitudes (as used in therapeutic deep brain stimulation) can modulate extracellular vesicle content in a frequ…

Study snapshot

PublicationbioRxiv : the preprint server for biology · 2023
Study typein_vitro
Reported directionMixed
Evidence ratingVery low

Abstract

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are small membrane-bound structures that originate from various cell types and carry molecular cargo to influence the behavior of recipient cells. The use of EVs as biomarkers and delivery vehicles for diagnosis and treatment in a wide range of human disease is a rapidly growing field of research and clinical practice. Four years ago, we postulated the hypothesis that electromagnetic fields (EMF) will influence the release and content of EVs (1). Since then, we have optimized several technical aspects of our experimental setup. We used a bioreactor system that allows cells to grow in a three-dimensional environment mimicking conditions. We designed a custom-made EMF stimulation device that encompasses the bioreactor and delivers uniform EMFs. We established a three-step EV purification protocol that enables high-density production of EVs. We then performed mass spectrometry-based proteomics analysis on EV-related proteins and used high-resolution nanoparticle flowcytometry for single-vesicle analysis. We demonstrate that electrical stimulations of current amplitudes at physiological level that are currently applied in therapeutic deep brain stimulation can modulate EV content in a frequency-dependent manner, which may have important implications for basic biology and medical applications. First, it raises intriguing questions about how the endogenous electrical activity of neuronal and other cellular assemblies influence the production and composition of EVs. Second, it reveals an additional underlying mechanism of how therapeutic electrical stimulations can modulate EVs and treat human brain disorders. Third, it provides a novel approach of utilizing electrical stimulations in generating specific EV cargos.

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
PopulationNot supplied
Sample sizeNot supplied
ExposureNot supplied
Evidence strengthVery lowConfidence: 66% · Peer reviewed: no

Main findings

Using a 3D bioreactor system and a custom EMF stimulation device, the authors report that electrical stimulations with physiological-level current amplitudes (as used in therapeutic deep brain stimulation) can modulate extracellular vesicle content in a frequency-dependent manner.

Outcomes measured

  • Extracellular vesicle (EV) release
  • EV content/cargo
  • EV-related protein content (proteomics)
  • Single-vesicle characteristics (nanoparticle flow cytometry)

Limitations

  • Preprint (not peer-reviewed as presented)
  • No specific frequencies, exposure metrics (e.g., field strength), or stimulation duration reported in the abstract
  • In vitro/bioreactor model; clinical relevance not established in the abstract
  • No quantitative results or statistical details provided in the abstract
View raw extracted JSON
{
  "study_type": "in_vitro",
  "exposure": {
    "band": null,
    "source": "therapeutic deep brain stimulation (electrical stimulation)",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": null,
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Extracellular vesicle (EV) release",
    "EV content/cargo",
    "EV-related protein content (proteomics)",
    "Single-vesicle characteristics (nanoparticle flow cytometry)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Using a 3D bioreactor system and a custom EMF stimulation device, the authors report that electrical stimulations with physiological-level current amplitudes (as used in therapeutic deep brain stimulation) can modulate extracellular vesicle content in a frequency-dependent manner.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Preprint (not peer-reviewed as presented)",
    "No specific frequencies, exposure metrics (e.g., field strength), or stimulation duration reported in the abstract",
    "In vitro/bioreactor model; clinical relevance not established in the abstract",
    "No quantitative results or statistical details provided in the abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "very_low",
  "confidence": 0.66,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "no",
  "keywords": [
    "extracellular vesicles",
    "electromagnetic fields",
    "electrical stimulation",
    "deep brain stimulation",
    "frequency-dependent",
    "bioreactor",
    "proteomics",
    "nanoparticle flow cytometry"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "occupational-exposure",
      "weight": 0.15,
      "reason": "Mentions therapeutic deep brain stimulation-like electrical stimulation, but no clear occupational context; hub match is weak."
    }
  ]
}
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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: 10.1101/2023.08.08.552505
PubMed: 37609326

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