Study type: Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Comparison of the reactions to stress produced by X-rays or electromagnetic fields (50Hz) and heat: induction of heat shock genes and cell cycle effects in human cells med./bio.

Published in: J Appl Biomed 2003; 1 (2): 85-93

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To analyze the cellular response to the stressors X-radiation, extremely low frequency magnetic fields and/or heat shock in a human leukemia cell line.

Background/further details

Cells were subjected to the following conditions: 1.) X-radiation (5 Gy at a dose rate of 1.2 Gy/min), 2.) heat shock (41°C for 30 minutes), 3.) magnetic field, 4.) X-radiation + heat shock, 5.) magnetic field + heat shock, 6.) X-radiation + magnetic field and 7.) control group.

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure Parameters
Exposure 1: 50 Hz
Exposure duration: continuous for 30 min.

General information

cells were treated with 1) X-rays 2) heat shock 3) 50 Hz EMF 4) X-rays + heat shock 5) 50 Hz EMF + heat shock 6) X-rays + 50 Hz EMF

Exposure 1

Main characteristics
Frequency 50 Hz
Type
Waveform
Exposure duration continuous for 30 min.
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Setup 1800 mm x 1400 mm x 600 mm plastic chamber placed in the center of the set of Merritt coils
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
magnetic flux density 60 µT - measured - ± 0.2 µT

Reference articles

Exposed system:

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

Investigated system:
Time of investigation:
  • after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

While X-rays and heat shock significantly influenced the cell proliferation and the cell cycle distribution compared to the control group these parameters were not significantly altered in cell cultures exposed to magnetic fields. A combination of magnetic field exposure and heat shock attenuated the heat shock induced effects. However, no such preventing effect was observed in the combination of X-rays and magnetic fields.
Treatment with heat shock, alone and in combination with X-rays and magnetic fields, led to significantly increased protein expression levels of HSP27, HSP70, HSP75 and HSP78 in comparison to the control cell cultures, while the exposure to magnetic fields alone only significantly increased the protein expression of HSP70.
The authors conclude that extremely low frequency magnetic fields can alter the protein expression level of HSP70 in a human leukemia cell line, but have no influence on cell proliferation and cell cycle. Furthermore, a protective effect of the magnetic fields was observed in heat shocked but not in X-radiated cells.

Study character:

Study funded by

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