Evaluation of Cytotoxic and Genotoxic Effects of Extremely Low-frequency Electromagnetic Field on Mesenchymal Stromal Cells.

PAPER pubmed Global advances in health and medicine 2018 In vitro study Effect: no_effect Evidence: Low

Read original paper → DOI: 10.1177/2164956118777472 PMID: 29796339 Evidence Lab

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Interest in the use of extremely low-frequency (ELF) electromagnetic field (EMF) for the treatment of pain and inflammation is increasing due to the ability of this promising therapy to compete with pharmaceuticals without the adverse effects caused by drugs. However, there continues to be concerns regarding cytotoxic and genotoxic effects that may occur as a result of exposure to EMF. OBJECTIVE: To investigate this concern, we tested the effect of our known therapeutic 5 Hz, 0.4 milliTesla (mT) EMF on a human mesenchymal stromal cell (hMSC) line to determine whether ELF-EMF exposure would cause cytotoxic or genotoxic effects. METHODS: Treated samples along with controls were exposed to 5 Hz, 0.4 mT ELF-EMF for 20 min/day, 3×/week for 2 weeks and then assayed for cell viability, proliferation rates, and chromosome breaks. RESULTS: Cytogenetic analysis of the viability and proliferation rates along with analysis of morphological genome stability showed no cytotoxicity, and no chromosome breaks per karyotype analysis-therefore no genotoxicity. CONCLUSION: Exposure to an ELF-EMF of 5 Hz, 0.4 mT for 20 min/day, 3×/week for 2 weeks does not cause cytotoxic or genotoxic effects in hMSCs.

AI evidence extraction

At a glance

Study type

In vitro study

Effect direction

no_effect

Population

Human mesenchymal stromal cell (hMSC) line

Sample size

—

Exposure

ELF therapeutic EMF · 20 min/day, 3×/week for 2 weeks

Evidence strength

Low

Confidence: 78% · Peer-reviewed: yes

Main findings

Exposure to 5 Hz, 0.4 mT ELF-EMF for 20 min/day, 3×/week for 2 weeks showed no cytotoxicity based on viability/proliferation and no genotoxicity based on karyotype analysis (no chromosome breaks).

Outcomes measured

cell viability
cell proliferation rates
chromosome breaks
morphological genome stability
cytotoxicity
genotoxicity

Limitations

Sample size not reported in abstract.
Single cell line/model; findings may not generalize beyond the tested hMSC line.
Exposure conditions limited to 5 Hz, 0.4 mT and the stated schedule; other parameters not assessed.

Suggested hubs

occupational-exposure (0.15)
Study evaluates biological effects of ELF-EMF exposure, though in a therapeutic context rather than workplace exposure.

View raw extracted JSON

{
    "study_type": "in_vitro",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "ELF",
        "source": "therapeutic EMF",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": "20 min/day, 3×/week for 2 weeks"
    },
    "population": "Human mesenchymal stromal cell (hMSC) line",
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "cell viability",
        "cell proliferation rates",
        "chromosome breaks",
        "morphological genome stability",
        "cytotoxicity",
        "genotoxicity"
    ],
    "main_findings": "Exposure to 5 Hz, 0.4 mT ELF-EMF for 20 min/day, 3×/week for 2 weeks showed no cytotoxicity based on viability/proliferation and no genotoxicity based on karyotype analysis (no chromosome breaks).",
    "effect_direction": "no_effect",
    "limitations": [
        "Sample size not reported in abstract.",
        "Single cell line/model; findings may not generalize beyond the tested hMSC line.",
        "Exposure conditions limited to 5 Hz, 0.4 mT and the stated schedule; other parameters not assessed."
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7800000000000000266453525910037569701671600341796875,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "extremely low-frequency",
        "ELF-EMF",
        "5 Hz",
        "0.4 mT",
        "therapeutic electromagnetic field",
        "mesenchymal stromal cells",
        "hMSC",
        "cytotoxicity",
        "genotoxicity",
        "chromosome breaks",
        "karyotype"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
        {
            "slug": "occupational-exposure",
            "weight": 0.1499999999999999944488848768742172978818416595458984375,
            "reason": "Study evaluates biological effects of ELF-EMF exposure, though in a therapeutic context rather than workplace exposure."
        }
    ]
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract/metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This content is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice.

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