Study type: Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Extremely low frequency electromagnetic field exposure does not modulate toll-like receptor signaling in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells med./bio.

Published in: Cytokine 2011; 54 (1): 43-50

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To study the effect of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields on a variety of components of the human innate immune system in a standardized in vitro cellular model.

Background/further details

Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells, isolated from blood from six healthy volunteers, were stimulated with specific TLR2 and TLR4 ligands (lipopolysaccharides and/or Pam3Cys) , or with several microorganisms and subsequently exposed (at different time points after stimulation). The Toll-like receptor (TLR) family is an important factor in the fast first response to invading pathogens.

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure Parameters
Exposure 1: 20 Hz–5 kHz
Exposure duration: continuous for 30 min

Exposure 1

Main characteristics
Frequency 20 Hz–5 kHz
Type
Exposure duration continuous for 30 min
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Chamber exposure system situated in a standard cell culture incubator
Setup double cylinder; inner cylinder with double copper wire solenoid coil; outer cylinder with windings on both ends to reduce fringe fields
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
magnetic flux density 5 µT - calibration - -
magnetic flux density 3 µT maximum measured - DC ambient value

Exposed system:

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

Investigated system:
Time of investigation:
  • after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

No significant difference in immune response, as reflected by different interleukin production could be detected after stimulation with LPS (TLR4 ligand), Pam3Cys (TLR2 ligand) or a panel of heat killed microorganisms (multiple TLR ligands). The authors conclude that under these experimental conditions, extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields did not modulate the innate immune response of human primary cells after TLR stimulation in vitro.

Study character:

Study funded by

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