Effects of prolonged exposure to ELF-EMF on HERVs expression in human melanoma cells.

Abstract

The Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) are ancient remnants of exogenous retroviral infections. Their abnormal activation is associated with several diseases, such as cancer and autoimmunity. Epigenetic and environmental factors are probably playing essential roles in the expression of these elements. This study aimed to examine the 96-hour effects of ELF-EMF on HERV-H, K, and W expression in human melanoma cells. SK-MEL-37 cells (the human skin malignant melanoma) were continuously exposed to ELF-EMF (50 Hz) at 1.5 and 3 mT intensity for 96 hours. Following mRNA extraction, the expression level of HERV-H, K, and W was assessed by qPCR. According to our results, exposure to ELF-EMF intensities for 96 hours could significantly downregulate HERV-H, K, and W env gene expression (P<0.001). Our obtained data suggest that low intensity and long-term exposure to ELF-EMF may pave using this type of radiation as a novel therapeutic approach by neutralizing the HERVs upregulated expression in melanoma cells.

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

SK-MEL-37 human melanoma cells continuously exposed to 50 Hz ELF-EMF at 1.5 or 3 mT for 96 hours showed significant downregulation of HERV-H, HERV-K, and HERV-W env gene expression (P<0.001).

Outcomes measured

• mRNA expression of HERV-H env gene (qPCR)
• mRNA expression of HERV-K env gene (qPCR)
• mRNA expression of HERV-W env gene (qPCR)

Limitations

• In vitro cell-line study; findings may not generalize to humans or clinical outcomes
• Sample size/number of replicates not reported in the provided abstract
• Only gene expression endpoints reported (no functional/phenotypic outcomes described)
• Exposure conditions limited to 50 Hz at 1.5 and 3 mT for 96 hours

Suggested hubs

• occupational-exposure (0.2)
  Study uses ELF (50 Hz) magnetic field exposure at mT levels, which can be relevant to occupational ELF contexts, though the work is in vitro.

{
    "study_type": "in_vitro",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "ELF",
        "source": null,
        "frequency_mhz": 0.05000000000000000277555756156289135105907917022705078125,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": "96 hours (continuous)"
    },
    "population": "Human melanoma cell line (SK-MEL-37)",
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "mRNA expression of HERV-H env gene (qPCR)",
        "mRNA expression of HERV-K env gene (qPCR)",
        "mRNA expression of HERV-W env gene (qPCR)"
    ],
    "main_findings": "SK-MEL-37 human melanoma cells continuously exposed to 50 Hz ELF-EMF at 1.5 or 3 mT for 96 hours showed significant downregulation of HERV-H, HERV-K, and HERV-W env gene expression (P<0.001).",
    "effect_direction": "mixed",
    "limitations": [
        "In vitro cell-line study; findings may not generalize to humans or clinical outcomes",
        "Sample size/number of replicates not reported in the provided abstract",
        "Only gene expression endpoints reported (no functional/phenotypic outcomes described)",
        "Exposure conditions limited to 50 Hz at 1.5 and 3 mT for 96 hours"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7399999999999999911182158029987476766109466552734375,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "ELF-EMF",
        "50 Hz",
        "melanoma",
        "SK-MEL-37",
        "human endogenous retroviruses",
        "HERV-H",
        "HERV-K",
        "HERV-W",
        "env gene",
        "qPCR",
        "gene expression",
        "mT"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
        {
            "slug": "occupational-exposure",
            "weight": 0.200000000000000011102230246251565404236316680908203125,
            "reason": "Study uses ELF (50 Hz) magnetic field exposure at mT levels, which can be relevant to occupational ELF contexts, though the work is in vitro."
        }
    ]
}

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