Effect of electromagnetic field radiation on transcriptomic profile and DNA methylation level in pig conceptuses during the peri-implantation period

Abstract

Category: Molecular Biology Tags: electromagnetic field, DNA methylation, transcriptomics, pig conceptuses, ELF-EMF, gene expression, reproductive biology DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-98918-9 URL: nature.com Overview Extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field (ELF-EMF) radiation has the capacity to alter the steroidogenic activity of porcine conceptuses during the peri-implantation period. This study explored the effects of short-term (2 h) ELF-EMF exposure on the transcriptomic profile and DNA methylation levels in pig conceptuses, focusing particularly on promoter regions of differentially expressed genes. Findings - Pig conceptuses were collected on days 15-16 of pregnancy, preincubated, and then exposed in vitro to ELF-EMF at a frequency of 50 Hz. - ELF-EMF treatment modified the expression of 21 protein-coding transcripts, including SLC34A1, HSD17B2, APOM, RGN, HSPA6, FGG, and FGG. - 21 GO annotations were identified for biological processes, 9 for cellular components, and 2 KEGG pathways. - ELF-EMF exposure resulted in an approximate 16-fold increase in genomic DNA methylation levels in pig conceptuses. - Changes in DNA methylation were detected in the promoter regions of APOM, HSD17B2, FGG, and SLC34A1. - 116 predicted single nucleotide variant substitutions were identified within RNA editing sites following ELF-EMF treatment. Conclusion ELF-EMF radiation interacts with DNA methylation and gene expression processes, particularly in genes tied to cellular homeostasis, development, and attachment of early conceptuses. These findings underscore a connection between ELF-EMF exposure and significant molecular changes during early development, highlighting the need for further research regarding the safety and biological impact of electromagnetic field exposure during critical stages of development.

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

Pig conceptuses exposed in vitro to 50 Hz ELF-EMF for 2 hours showed modified expression of 21 protein-coding transcripts. The study reports an approximately 16-fold increase in genomic DNA methylation levels and detected DNA methylation changes in promoter regions of APOM, HSD17B2, FGG, and SLC34A1; 116 predicted SNV substitutions were identified within RNA editing sites following exposure.

Outcomes measured

• Transcriptomic profile / gene expression (differentially expressed transcripts)
• Genomic DNA methylation level
• Promoter-region DNA methylation changes in specific genes (APOM, HSD17B2, FGG, SLC34A1)
• GO annotations and KEGG pathway enrichment
• Predicted single nucleotide variant substitutions within RNA editing sites

Limitations

• In vitro exposure model (conceptuses exposed outside the organism)
• Short-term exposure duration (2 h)
• Sample size not reported in the provided abstract/metadata
• Exposure intensity/dose metrics (e.g., field strength, SAR) not reported in the provided abstract/metadata

Suggested hubs

• reproductive-development (0.78)
  Study examines peri-implantation pig conceptuses and molecular changes during early development after ELF-EMF exposure.
• elf-emf (0.72)
  Exposure is extremely low-frequency EMF at 50 Hz.

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    "study_type": "in_vitro",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "ELF",
        "source": null,
        "frequency_mhz": 0.05000000000000000277555756156289135105907917022705078125,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": "2 h"
    },
    "population": "Pig conceptuses (days 15–16 of pregnancy), exposed in vitro",
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "Transcriptomic profile / gene expression (differentially expressed transcripts)",
        "Genomic DNA methylation level",
        "Promoter-region DNA methylation changes in specific genes (APOM, HSD17B2, FGG, SLC34A1)",
        "GO annotations and KEGG pathway enrichment",
        "Predicted single nucleotide variant substitutions within RNA editing sites"
    ],
    "main_findings": "Pig conceptuses exposed in vitro to 50 Hz ELF-EMF for 2 hours showed modified expression of 21 protein-coding transcripts. The study reports an approximately 16-fold increase in genomic DNA methylation levels and detected DNA methylation changes in promoter regions of APOM, HSD17B2, FGG, and SLC34A1; 116 predicted SNV substitutions were identified within RNA editing sites following exposure.",
    "effect_direction": "harm",
    "limitations": [
        "In vitro exposure model (conceptuses exposed outside the organism)",
        "Short-term exposure duration (2 h)",
        "Sample size not reported in the provided abstract/metadata",
        "Exposure intensity/dose metrics (e.g., field strength, SAR) not reported in the provided abstract/metadata"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7399999999999999911182158029987476766109466552734375,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "ELF-EMF",
        "50 Hz",
        "pig conceptuses",
        "peri-implantation",
        "transcriptomics",
        "gene expression",
        "DNA methylation",
        "promoter methylation",
        "RNA editing"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
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}

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