Enhanced cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of gadolinium following ELF-EMF irradiation in human lymphocytes.

Abstract

There are many studies of Gd nephrotoxicity and neurotoxicity, whereas research on cyto- and genotoxicity in normal human lymphocytes is scarce. It is important to investigate the effect of extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF) on Gd toxicity, as patients are co-exposed to Gd and ELF-EMF generated by MRI scanners. We investigated the cytotoxicity and genotoixcity of Gd and the possible enhancing effect of ELF-EMF on Gd toxicity in cultured human lymphocytes by performing a micronuclei (MN) assay, trypan blue dye exclusion, single cell gel electrophoresis, and apoptosis analyses using flow cytometry. Isolated lymphocytes were exposed to 0.2-1.2 mM of Gd only or in combination with a 60-Hz ELF-EMF of 0.8-mT field strength. Exposing human lymphocytes to Gd resulted in a concentration- and time-dependent decrease in cell viability and an increase in MN frequency, single strand DNA breakage, apoptotic cell death, and ROS production. ELF-EMF (0.8 mT) exposure also increased cell death, MN frequency, olive tail moment, and apoptosis induced by Gd treatment alone. These results suggest that Gd induces DNA damage and apoptotic cell death in human lymphocytes and that ELF-EMF enhances the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of Gd.

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

Exposure to gadolinium (0.2–1.2 mM) caused concentration- and time-dependent decreases in cell viability and increases in MN frequency, DNA strand breaks, apoptosis, and ROS production in cultured human lymphocytes. Co-exposure to a 60-Hz ELF-EMF at 0.8 mT increased cell death, MN frequency, olive tail moment, and apoptosis compared with gadolinium treatment alone.

Outcomes measured

• Cell viability (trypan blue dye exclusion)
• Micronuclei (MN) frequency
• Single strand DNA breakage (single cell gel electrophoresis/comet; olive tail moment)
• Apoptosis (flow cytometry)
• ROS production

Limitations

• In vitro study in isolated/cultured human lymphocytes; findings may not directly translate to in vivo or clinical settings.
• Exposure duration and detailed exposure conditions are not provided in the abstract.
• Sample size and replication details are not reported in the abstract.

Suggested hubs

• who-icnirp (0.2)
  Study involves ELF-EMF exposure parameters (60 Hz, 0.8 mT) relevant to guideline discussions, though not a policy paper.

{
    "study_type": "in_vitro",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "ELF",
        "source": "MRI scanners (co-exposure context)",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": null
    },
    "population": "Cultured human lymphocytes (isolated)",
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "Cell viability (trypan blue dye exclusion)",
        "Micronuclei (MN) frequency",
        "Single strand DNA breakage (single cell gel electrophoresis/comet; olive tail moment)",
        "Apoptosis (flow cytometry)",
        "ROS production"
    ],
    "main_findings": "Exposure to gadolinium (0.2–1.2 mM) caused concentration- and time-dependent decreases in cell viability and increases in MN frequency, DNA strand breaks, apoptosis, and ROS production in cultured human lymphocytes. Co-exposure to a 60-Hz ELF-EMF at 0.8 mT increased cell death, MN frequency, olive tail moment, and apoptosis compared with gadolinium treatment alone.",
    "effect_direction": "harm",
    "limitations": [
        "In vitro study in isolated/cultured human lymphocytes; findings may not directly translate to in vivo or clinical settings.",
        "Exposure duration and detailed exposure conditions are not provided in the abstract.",
        "Sample size and replication details are not reported in the abstract."
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7800000000000000266453525910037569701671600341796875,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields",
        "ELF-EMF",
        "60 Hz",
        "0.8 mT",
        "gadolinium",
        "human lymphocytes",
        "cytotoxicity",
        "genotoxicity",
        "micronucleus assay",
        "comet assay",
        "olive tail moment",
        "apoptosis",
        "ROS"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
        {
            "slug": "who-icnirp",
            "weight": 0.200000000000000011102230246251565404236316680908203125,
            "reason": "Study involves ELF-EMF exposure parameters (60 Hz, 0.8 mT) relevant to guideline discussions, though not a policy paper."
        }
    ]
}

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