Impact of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields on CD4 expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Abstract

There is increasing evidence suggesting that extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF) may influence several cell functions. Here the effects of ELF-EMF were studied on the expression of CD4+ cell surface receptors of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) using fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACScan). The expression of CD4+ in ELF-EMF exposed (24, 48 and 72 h) and not exposed PBMC were not statistically significant. In addition, a flow cytometric analysis was determined by using a fluorescent labeled antibody, at 24 and 72 h incubations. The amount of bound antibody was distributed with a slight difference in the ELF-EMF-exposed PBMC compared to the not exposed cells. Moreover, DNA CD4+ expression in PBMC strongly increased in exposed cells, resting and activated with Phytohaemaglutinin (PHA). When polymerase chain reaction was performed on CD4+ mRNA of PBMC an increase of CD4+ mRNA expression was found after the resting cells were exposed to ELF-EMF at 24 h compared to not exposed cells, while at 48 and 72 h no difference was found. In the cell cycle progression analysis, the PBMC exposed to ELF-EMF presented a significant increase of percentage expression of cell cycle progression in the S phase compared to not exposed cells; while in G1 and G2 phases, there were no differences. Our results provide new evidence that ELF-EMF can affect CD4+ expression in PBMC and describe an additional biological activity for ELF-EMF affecting CD4+ transcription and translation protein and the increase of the percentage expression of the cell cycle progression of the S phase.

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

CD4+ cell surface receptor expression measured by FACScan was not statistically significantly different between ELF-EMF exposed and unexposed PBMC at 24, 48, and 72 h, though a slight difference in bound antibody distribution was noted at 24 and 72 h. CD4+ DNA expression was reported to strongly increase in exposed cells (resting and PHA-activated), and CD4+ mRNA increased at 24 h in resting cells but not at 48 or 72 h. Exposed PBMC showed a significant increase in the percentage of cells in S phase, with no differences in G1 or G2.

Outcomes measured

• CD4+ cell surface receptor expression (flow cytometry/FACScan)
• Bound anti-CD4 antibody distribution (flow cytometry)
• CD4+ DNA expression
• CD4+ mRNA expression (PCR)
• Cell cycle progression (S, G1, G2 phases)

Limitations

• Exposure parameters (e.g., frequency, field strength) not reported in the abstract
• Sample size not reported in the abstract
• In vitro study; generalizability to in vivo human health outcomes is unclear
• Some results described qualitatively (e.g., 'slight difference') without quantitative detail in the abstract

{
    "study_type": "in_vitro",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "ELF",
        "source": null,
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": "24, 48 and 72 h"
    },
    "population": "Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC)",
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "CD4+ cell surface receptor expression (flow cytometry/FACScan)",
        "Bound anti-CD4 antibody distribution (flow cytometry)",
        "CD4+ DNA expression",
        "CD4+ mRNA expression (PCR)",
        "Cell cycle progression (S, G1, G2 phases)"
    ],
    "main_findings": "CD4+ cell surface receptor expression measured by FACScan was not statistically significantly different between ELF-EMF exposed and unexposed PBMC at 24, 48, and 72 h, though a slight difference in bound antibody distribution was noted at 24 and 72 h. CD4+ DNA expression was reported to strongly increase in exposed cells (resting and PHA-activated), and CD4+ mRNA increased at 24 h in resting cells but not at 48 or 72 h. Exposed PBMC showed a significant increase in the percentage of cells in S phase, with no differences in G1 or G2.",
    "effect_direction": "mixed",
    "limitations": [
        "Exposure parameters (e.g., frequency, field strength) not reported in the abstract",
        "Sample size not reported in the abstract",
        "In vitro study; generalizability to in vivo human health outcomes is unclear",
        "Some results described qualitatively (e.g., 'slight difference') without quantitative detail in the abstract"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7399999999999999911182158029987476766109466552734375,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "extremely low frequency",
        "ELF-EMF",
        "CD4",
        "peripheral blood mononuclear cells",
        "PBMC",
        "flow cytometry",
        "FACScan",
        "PCR",
        "mRNA expression",
        "cell cycle",
        "S phase",
        "phytohaemaglutinin",
        "PHA"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": []
}

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