Extremely low-frequency pulsed electromagnetic fields induce apoptotic, oxidative stress, inflammatory and aquaporin-related kidney alteration

Abstract

Extremely low-frequency pulsed electromagnetic fields are used as a biotherapy method in various medical and experimental applications. However, the cellular effects of prolonged or intense exposure remain unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of two different ELF-PEMF doses on kidney tissue over an 8 week period, investigating oxidative stress, apoptosis, inflammation, and aquaporin expression using biochemical, histopathological, and immunohistochemical methods. Forty male rats were assigned to control, sham, 1 mT, and 5 mT groups; the 1 mT and 5 mT groups were exposed to ELF-PEMF for four hours daily for eight weeks, while controls received no intervention. At the end of the experiment, kidney tissues were collected for histopathological (H&E and PAS), immunohistochemical and biochemical analyses. In kidney tissue exposed to ELF-PEMF, hyperemia, tubular degeneration, and proteinaceous casts were observed. 1 mT and 5 mT ELF-PEMF exposure increased BAX, Caspase-9, and TNF-α immunoreactivity compared to the control and sham groups, while no change was observed in BCL-2 expression. 5 mT group exposure to ELF-PEMF increased AQP3 expression, a critical water channel in cellular H2O2 permeability (p < 0.05). AQP5 expression was significantly increased in both the 1 mT and 5 mT groups compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Biochemical analyses showed that oxidative stress levels were significantly increased in both the 1 mT and 5 mT groups compared to the control group (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that, despite its recent use for its therapeutic properties, long-term exposure to ELF-PEMF may cause oxidative stress, apoptosis, and inflammation in renal tissue and alter the histological structure and cellular homeostasis.

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Main findings

Kidney tissue exposed to 1 mT and 5 mT ELF-PEMF showed hyperemia, tubular degeneration, and proteinaceous casts. ELF-PEMF increased BAX, Caspase-9, TNF-α, AQP5, and oxidative stress markers; 5 mT exposure also increased AQP3, while BCL-2 did not change. The authors conclude that long-term ELF-PEMF exposure may cause oxidative stress, apoptosis, inflammation, and altered renal histology and cellular homeostasis in rats.

Outcomes measured

• kidney histopathology
• hyperemia
• tubular degeneration
• proteinaceous casts
• BAX immunoreactivity
• Caspase-9 immunoreactivity
• TNF-α immunoreactivity
• BCL-2 expression
• AQP3 expression
• AQP5 expression
• oxidative stress

Limitations

• Animal study in male rats
• Exposure frequency was not stated in the abstract
• Only two ELF-PEMF magnetic flux density groups, 1 mT and 5 mT, were evaluated
• Study duration was 8 weeks

{
    "study_type": "animal",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "ELF",
        "source": null,
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": "4 hours daily for 8 weeks"
    },
    "population": "Forty male rats assigned to control, sham, 1 mT ELF-PEMF, and 5 mT ELF-PEMF groups",
    "sample_size": 40,
    "outcomes": [
        "kidney histopathology",
        "hyperemia",
        "tubular degeneration",
        "proteinaceous casts",
        "BAX immunoreactivity",
        "Caspase-9 immunoreactivity",
        "TNF-α immunoreactivity",
        "BCL-2 expression",
        "AQP3 expression",
        "AQP5 expression",
        "oxidative stress"
    ],
    "main_findings": "Kidney tissue exposed to 1 mT and 5 mT ELF-PEMF showed hyperemia, tubular degeneration, and proteinaceous casts. ELF-PEMF increased BAX, Caspase-9, TNF-α, AQP5, and oxidative stress markers; 5 mT exposure also increased AQP3, while BCL-2 did not change. The authors conclude that long-term ELF-PEMF exposure may cause oxidative stress, apoptosis, inflammation, and altered renal histology and cellular homeostasis in rats.",
    "effect_direction": "harm",
    "limitations": [
        "Animal study in male rats",
        "Exposure frequency was not stated in the abstract",
        "Only two ELF-PEMF magnetic flux density groups, 1 mT and 5 mT, were evaluated",
        "Study duration was 8 weeks"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "very_low",
    "confidence": 0.93000000000000004884981308350688777863979339599609375,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "ELF-PEMF",
        "extremely low-frequency pulsed electromagnetic fields",
        "kidney",
        "renal tissue",
        "rats",
        "oxidative stress",
        "apoptosis",
        "inflammation",
        "aquaporin",
        "AQP3",
        "AQP5",
        "BAX",
        "Caspase-9",
        "TNF-α"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": []
}

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