Effects of low-intensity AC and/or DC electromagnetic fields on cell attachment and induction of apoptosis.

Abstract

Rat tendon fibroblast (RTF) and rat bone marrow (RBM) osteoprogenitor cells were cultured and exposed to AC and/or DC magnetic fields in a triaxial Helmholtz coil in an incubator for up to 13 days. The AC fields were at 60 and 1000 Hz and up to 0.25 mT peak to peak, and the DC fields were up to 0.25 mT. At various combinations of field strengths and frequencies, AC and/or DC fields resulted in extensive detachment of preattached cells and prevented the normal attachment of cells not previously attached to substrates. In addition, the fields resulted in altered cell morphologies. When RTF and RBM cells were removed from the fields after several days of exposure, they partially reattached and assumed more normal morphologies. An additional set of experiments described in the Appendix corroborates these findings and also shows that low-frequency EMF also initiates apoptosis, i.e., programmed cell death, at the onset of cell detachment. Taken together, these results suggest that the electromagnetic fields result in significant alterations in cell metabolism and cytoskeleton structure. Further work is required to determine the relative effect of the electric and magnetic fields on these phenomena. The research has implications for understanding the role of fields in affecting bone healing in fracture nonunions, in cell detachment in cancer metastasis, and in the effect of EMF on organisms generally.

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

Rat tendon fibroblast and rat bone marrow osteoprogenitor cells exposed in vitro to AC (60 or 1000 Hz, up to 0.25 mT peak-to-peak) and/or DC (up to 0.25 mT) magnetic fields showed extensive detachment of preattached cells and impaired attachment of previously unattached cells, with altered morphology. Appendix experiments corroborated these findings and reported initiation of apoptosis at the onset of cell detachment; partial reattachment and more normal morphology occurred after removal from fields.

Outcomes measured

• cell attachment/detachment
• cell morphology changes
• apoptosis (programmed cell death)

Limitations

• In vitro cell culture study; generalizability to organisms/humans not established in abstract.
• Relative contributions of electric vs magnetic field components not determined (authors note further work required).
• Sample size and detailed methods not provided in abstract.

Suggested hubs

• occupational-exposure (0.2)
  ELF magnetic-field exposure is relevant to broader ELF exposure discussions, though this is a laboratory in vitro study rather than an occupational setting.

{
    "study_type": "in_vitro",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "ELF",
        "source": "laboratory exposure (Helmholtz coil)",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": "up to 13 days"
    },
    "population": null,
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "cell attachment/detachment",
        "cell morphology changes",
        "apoptosis (programmed cell death)"
    ],
    "main_findings": "Rat tendon fibroblast and rat bone marrow osteoprogenitor cells exposed in vitro to AC (60 or 1000 Hz, up to 0.25 mT peak-to-peak) and/or DC (up to 0.25 mT) magnetic fields showed extensive detachment of preattached cells and impaired attachment of previously unattached cells, with altered morphology. Appendix experiments corroborated these findings and reported initiation of apoptosis at the onset of cell detachment; partial reattachment and more normal morphology occurred after removal from fields.",
    "effect_direction": "harm",
    "limitations": [
        "In vitro cell culture study; generalizability to organisms/humans not established in abstract.",
        "Relative contributions of electric vs magnetic field components not determined (authors note further work required).",
        "Sample size and detailed methods not provided in abstract."
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7399999999999999911182158029987476766109466552734375,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "ELF EMF",
        "AC magnetic field",
        "DC magnetic field",
        "60 Hz",
        "1000 Hz",
        "0.25 mT",
        "Helmholtz coil",
        "fibroblasts",
        "osteoprogenitor cells",
        "cell detachment",
        "cell attachment",
        "apoptosis",
        "cell morphology"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
        {
            "slug": "occupational-exposure",
            "weight": 0.200000000000000011102230246251565404236316680908203125,
            "reason": "ELF magnetic-field exposure is relevant to broader ELF exposure discussions, though this is a laboratory in vitro study rather than an occupational setting."
        }
    ]
}

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