Single-cell analysis reveals the spatiotemporal effects of long-term electromagnetic field exposure on the liver

PAPER manual Front Cell Dev Biol 2025 Animal study Effect: harm Evidence: Low

Read original paper → DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2025.1579121 Evidence Lab

Abstract

Category: Cell Biology, Toxicology Tags: electromagnetic fields, liver function, single-cell RNA sequencing, long-term exposure, hepatic cell response, lipid metabolism, organ toxicity DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2025.1579121 URL: frontiersin.org Overview Artificial electromagnetic fields (EMFs) have the potential to impair organ function. In particular, this study addresses their long-term impact on the liver, the body's metabolic hub. Researchers aimed to systematically evaluate how prolonged EMF exposure affects liver health and function. Methods - Mice were subjected to 2.45 GHz EMF exposure daily for up to 5 months. - Comprehensive liver assessments included serum liver function tests, lipidomic analyses, and histological evaluations. - Single-cell RNA sequencing and spatiotemporally resolved transcriptomic analysis were used to explore EMF-induced changes at the cellular level. Findings - Different hepatic cell types exhibited varying sensitivities to electromagnetic radiation. - Hepatocytes, endothelial cells, and monocytes were particularly sensitive, experiencing disruptions in lipid metabolism, immune regulation, and intrinsic cellular functions, respectively. - Most transcriptomic alterations were localized in peri-portal regions of the liver, indicating a spatial (zonation-related) sensitivity pattern. Conclusion This study provides detailed spatiotemporal visualization of how EMF exposure alters hepatic cellular biology, offering crucial evidence linking long-term EMF exposure to significant biological impacts on the liver. These findings support heightened concern regarding EMF’s role in liver dysfunction and overall organ health.

AI evidence extraction

At a glance

Study type

Animal study

Effect direction

harm

Population

Mice

Sample size

—

Exposure

microwave · 2450 MHz · daily for up to 5 months

Evidence strength

Low

Confidence: 74% · Peer-reviewed: yes

Main findings

Mice exposed daily to 2.45 GHz EMF for up to 5 months showed cell-type-specific hepatic responses, with hepatocytes, endothelial cells, and monocytes described as particularly sensitive. Reported effects included disruptions in lipid metabolism, immune regulation, and intrinsic cellular functions, with many transcriptomic alterations localized to peri-portal liver regions.

Outcomes measured

Liver function (serum tests)
Lipidomic profiles / lipid metabolism
Histological liver changes
Single-cell RNA sequencing transcriptomic changes by hepatic cell type
Spatial (zonation/peri-portal) distribution of transcriptomic alterations
Immune regulation changes (monocytes/immune-related pathways)

Limitations

Sample size not reported in provided abstract
Exposure intensity/SAR not reported in provided abstract
Details of control/sham conditions not reported in provided abstract
Quantitative effect sizes and statistical details not reported in provided abstract

Suggested hubs

animal-studies (0.9)
Mouse study assessing biological effects of long-term EMF exposure on liver.

View raw extracted JSON

{
    "study_type": "animal",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "microwave",
        "source": null,
        "frequency_mhz": 2450,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": "daily for up to 5 months"
    },
    "population": "Mice",
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "Liver function (serum tests)",
        "Lipidomic profiles / lipid metabolism",
        "Histological liver changes",
        "Single-cell RNA sequencing transcriptomic changes by hepatic cell type",
        "Spatial (zonation/peri-portal) distribution of transcriptomic alterations",
        "Immune regulation changes (monocytes/immune-related pathways)"
    ],
    "main_findings": "Mice exposed daily to 2.45 GHz EMF for up to 5 months showed cell-type-specific hepatic responses, with hepatocytes, endothelial cells, and monocytes described as particularly sensitive. Reported effects included disruptions in lipid metabolism, immune regulation, and intrinsic cellular functions, with many transcriptomic alterations localized to peri-portal liver regions.",
    "effect_direction": "harm",
    "limitations": [
        "Sample size not reported in provided abstract",
        "Exposure intensity/SAR not reported in provided abstract",
        "Details of control/sham conditions not reported in provided abstract",
        "Quantitative effect sizes and statistical details not reported in provided abstract"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7399999999999999911182158029987476766109466552734375,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "electromagnetic fields",
        "2.45 GHz",
        "microwave",
        "liver",
        "mice",
        "long-term exposure",
        "single-cell RNA sequencing",
        "spatiotemporal transcriptomics",
        "lipid metabolism",
        "immune regulation",
        "hepatocytes",
        "endothelial cells",
        "monocytes",
        "peri-portal zonation"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
        {
            "slug": "animal-studies",
            "weight": 0.90000000000000002220446049250313080847263336181640625,
            "reason": "Mouse study assessing biological effects of long-term EMF exposure on liver."
        }
    ]
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract/metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This content is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice.

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