Repeated electromagnetic field stimulation lowers amyloid-β peptide levels in primary human mixed brain

Abstract

Repeated electromagnetic field stimulation lowers amyloid-β peptide levels in primary human mixed brain tissue cultures Felipe P Perez, Bryan Maloney, Nipun Chopra, Jorge J Morisaki, Debomoy K Lahiri. Repeated electromagnetic field stimulation lowers amyloid-β peptide levels in primary human mixed brain tissue cultures. Sci Rep. 2021 Jan 12;11(1):621. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-77808-2. Abstract Late Onset Alzheimer's Disease is the most common cause of dementia, characterized by extracellular deposition of plaques primarily of amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide and tangles primarily of hyperphosphorylated tau protein. We present data to suggest a noninvasive strategy to decrease potentially toxic Aβ levels, using repeated electromagnetic field stimulation (REMFS) in primary human brain (PHB) cultures. We examined effects of REMFS on Aβ levels (Aβ40 and Aβ42, that are 40 or 42 amino acid residues in length, respectively) in PHB cultures at different frequencies, powers, and specific absorption rates (SAR). PHB cultures at day in vitro 7 (DIV7) treated with 64 MHz, and 1 hour daily for 14 days (DIV 21) had significantly reduced levels of secreted Aβ40 (p = 001) and Aβ42 (p = 0.029) peptides, compared to untreated cultures. PHB cultures (DIV7) treated at 64 MHz, for 1 or 2 hour during 14 days also produced significantly lower Aβ levels. PHB cultures (DIV28) treated with 64 MHz 1 hour/day during 4 or 8 days produced a similar significant reduction in Aβ40 levels. 0.4 W/kg was the minimum SAR required to produce a biological effect. Exposure did not result in cellular toxicity nor significant changes in secreted Aβ precursor protein-α (sAPPα) levels, suggesting the decrease in Aβ did not likely result from redirection toward the α-secretase pathway. EMF frequency and power used in our work is utilized in human magnetic resonance imaging (MRI, thus suggesting REMFS can be further developed in clinical settings to modulate Aβ deposition. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

In primary human brain cultures, REMFS at 64 MHz reduced secreted Aβ40 and Aβ42 levels compared with untreated cultures under multiple exposure schedules (e.g., 1 hour daily for 14 days). The abstract reports no cellular toxicity and no significant changes in sAPPα levels. A SAR of 0.4 W/kg is described as the minimum required to produce a biological effect.

Outcomes measured

• Secreted amyloid-β40 (Aβ40) levels
• Secreted amyloid-β42 (Aβ42) levels
• Cellular toxicity
• Secreted amyloid precursor protein-α (sAPPα) levels

Limitations

• Sample size not reported in the abstract
• In vitro primary human tissue culture model; clinical relevance not established in the abstract
• Exposure parameters beyond 64 MHz and minimum SAR are not fully specified in the abstract

{
    "study_type": "in_vitro",
    "exposure": {
        "band": null,
        "source": "repeated electromagnetic field stimulation (REMFS)",
        "frequency_mhz": 64,
        "sar_wkg": 0.40000000000000002220446049250313080847263336181640625,
        "duration": "1 hour daily for 14 days; also 1–2 hours during 14 days; and 1 hour/day for 4 or 8 days (depending on DIV)"
    },
    "population": "Primary human brain (PHB) tissue cultures (primary human mixed brain tissue cultures)",
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "Secreted amyloid-β40 (Aβ40) levels",
        "Secreted amyloid-β42 (Aβ42) levels",
        "Cellular toxicity",
        "Secreted amyloid precursor protein-α (sAPPα) levels"
    ],
    "main_findings": "In primary human brain cultures, REMFS at 64 MHz reduced secreted Aβ40 and Aβ42 levels compared with untreated cultures under multiple exposure schedules (e.g., 1 hour daily for 14 days). The abstract reports no cellular toxicity and no significant changes in sAPPα levels. A SAR of 0.4 W/kg is described as the minimum required to produce a biological effect.",
    "effect_direction": "benefit",
    "limitations": [
        "Sample size not reported in the abstract",
        "In vitro primary human tissue culture model; clinical relevance not established in the abstract",
        "Exposure parameters beyond 64 MHz and minimum SAR are not fully specified in the abstract"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7800000000000000266453525910037569701671600341796875,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "electromagnetic field stimulation",
        "REMFS",
        "primary human brain cultures",
        "amyloid-beta",
        "Aβ40",
        "Aβ42",
        "Alzheimer's disease",
        "specific absorption rate",
        "64 MHz",
        "MRI"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": []
}

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