Effects and mechanisms of lipidomic and development alterations in ire-1 mutant Caenorhabditis elegans under extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field exposure

PAPER manual Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 2026 Animal study Effect: harm Evidence: Very low

Read original paper → DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2026.120386 PMID: 42309018 Evidence Lab

Abstract

This study assessed the effects and underlying mechanisms of 50 Hz extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field (ELF-EMF) on lipid metabolism and development in ire-1 mutant Caenorhabditis elegans. Lipidomic profiling revealed 87 lipids with significant alterations following ELF-EMF exposure, and Biological Pathway Analysis (BioPAN) revealed activated conversion of phosphatidylserine to phosphatidylethanolamine, enhanced dihydroceramide synthesis, and suppressed lysophosphatidylinositol to phosphatidylinositol in ire-1 worms. Reverse Transcription Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR) and Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) methods were utilized for further verification of lipidic alterations in ire-1 worms following ELF-EMF exposure. Significant elevation of Ca²⁺ and slight enhancement of hsp-4::GFP were observed, suggesting that endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress may be activated independently of IRE-1, with concurrent upregulation of Activating Transcription Factor (ATF) gene expressions. Developmental inhibition was observed, characterized by 22.3% reduction in body length and 28.7% decrease in brood size. The adaptive antioxidant responses were detected as evidenced by 11.0% increased superoxide dismutase activity, 18.6% enhanced total antioxidant capacity, and 53.4% decreased malondialdehyde content. In summary, 50 Hz ELF-EMF exposure can disrupt both lipid metabolism and developmental processes in ire-1 worms, inducing striking calcium homeostasis dysregulation, ER stress, and oxidative stress responses. Unfolded protein responses were suggested to be activated independently of IRE-1, possibly involving the PERK/ATF4 pathway. ELF-EMF may act as an oxidative stress-like factor to activate ER stress and adaptive antioxidant responses in ire-1 worms.

AI evidence extraction

At a glance

Study type

Animal study

Effect direction

harm

Population

ire-1 mutant Caenorhabditis elegans

Sample size

—

Exposure

ELF · 5.0E-5 MHz

Evidence strength

Very low

Confidence: 86% · Peer-reviewed: yes

Main findings

In ire-1 mutant C. elegans, 50 Hz ELF-EMF exposure was associated with significant lipidomic alterations, elevated Ca²⁺, slight enhancement of hsp-4::GFP, and upregulation of ATF gene expressions. Developmental inhibition was observed, including 22.3% reduced body length and 28.7% decreased brood size, alongside increased antioxidant activity and decreased malondialdehyde content.

Outcomes measured

lipid metabolism
lipidomic alterations
calcium homeostasis
endoplasmic reticulum stress
ATF gene expression
body length
brood size
superoxide dismutase activity
total antioxidant capacity
malondialdehyde content
oxidative stress responses

Limitations

Invertebrate mutant model; applicability to other organisms is not established in the abstract.
Exposure intensity and duration are not stated in the abstract.
Sample size is not stated in the abstract.

View raw extracted JSON

{
    "study_type": "animal",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "ELF",
        "source": null,
        "frequency_mhz": 5.00000000000000023960868011929647991564706899225711822509765625e-5,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": null
    },
    "population": "ire-1 mutant Caenorhabditis elegans",
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "lipid metabolism",
        "lipidomic alterations",
        "calcium homeostasis",
        "endoplasmic reticulum stress",
        "ATF gene expression",
        "body length",
        "brood size",
        "superoxide dismutase activity",
        "total antioxidant capacity",
        "malondialdehyde content",
        "oxidative stress responses"
    ],
    "main_findings": "In ire-1 mutant C. elegans, 50 Hz ELF-EMF exposure was associated with significant lipidomic alterations, elevated Ca²⁺, slight enhancement of hsp-4::GFP, and upregulation of ATF gene expressions. Developmental inhibition was observed, including 22.3% reduced body length and 28.7% decreased brood size, alongside increased antioxidant activity and decreased malondialdehyde content.",
    "effect_direction": "harm",
    "limitations": [
        "Invertebrate mutant model; applicability to other organisms is not established in the abstract.",
        "Exposure intensity and duration are not stated in the abstract.",
        "Sample size is not stated in the abstract."
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "very_low",
    "confidence": 0.85999999999999998667732370449812151491641998291015625,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "ELF-EMF",
        "50 Hz",
        "Caenorhabditis elegans",
        "ire-1 mutant",
        "lipidomics",
        "developmental inhibition",
        "endoplasmic reticulum stress",
        "calcium homeostasis",
        "oxidative stress",
        "antioxidant response"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": []
}

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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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