• experimental
  
• epidemiological
  

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Medical/biological Study (experimental study)

50-Hz extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields enhance cell proliferation and DNA damage: possible involvement of a redox mechanism. med./biol.

PubMed Entry

Journal web site

Aim of study (according to author)
To study the effects of 50 Hz extremely low frequency electromagnetic field on cell proliferation, cell cycle distribution and DNA damage in normal cells (embryonic human lung fibroblasts, WI-38), neoplastic cells (human promyelocytic leukemia cells, HL-60), and immortalized cells (rat fibroblasts, Rat-1).

Endpoints

• genotoxicity/mutation: DNA damage
• cell viability/cell division/proliferation: cell proliferation; cell cycle distribution

Exposure
General category: magnetic field, 50/60 Hz (AC)

Field characteristics	Parameters
50 Hz exposure duration: 3 to 72 h	magnetic flux density: 500 µT magnetic flux density: 750 µT magnetic flux density: 1 mT

Exposed system:
intact cell/cell culture (in vitro)
HL-60 (human acute myeloid leukaemia cells); WI-38 (embryonic human lung fibroblasts); Rat-1 (rat fibroblasts)

Methods
Endpoint/Measurement parameters/Methodology

• genotoxicity/mutation: DNA damage (single strand breaks; comet assay); oxidative DNA damage (see below)
• molecular biosynthesis: oxidative events (production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and 8-OHdG (8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine) formation/oxidative DNA damage (immunohistochemistry)); expression of NF-kappa B-related proteins (p65, p50, IΚBα; Western blot)
• cell viability/cell division/proliferation: cell proliferation; cell cycle distribution (cytofluorometry)

Main outcome of study (according to author)
The data show that 24-72 h exposure to 0.5-1 mT extremely low frequency electromagnetic field increased cell proliferation and DNA damage in all cell types. The effects of extremely low frequency electromagnetic field on DNA damage and cell proliferation were prevented by pretreatment of cells with an antioxidant (alpha-tocopherol; to avoid the formation of peroxides), suggesting that redox reactions were involved. Exposed cells also exhibited modifications of NF-kappa B-related proteins, a process usually attributed to redox reactions. The data suggest that extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields influence proliferation and DNA damage through the action of reactive oxygen species.

(Study character: medical/biological study, experimental study, full/main study)

Study funded by

• Istituto Superiore per la Prevenzione e la Sicurezza del Lavoro (ISPESL; National Institute for Occupational Safety and Prevention), Italy
• COFIN (Compagnia Finanziaria), Italy
• Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (UCSC; Catholic University of Sacred Heart), Italy

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