Mitochondrial ROS release and subsequent Akt Activation potentially mediated the anti-apoptotic effect of a 50-Hz magnetic field on FL cells.
Feng B, Ye C, Qiu L, Chen L, Fu Y, Sun W · 2016
View Original AbstractPower frequency magnetic fields can activate cellular protection mechanisms through mitochondrial signaling, even at exposures lasting just minutes.
Plain English Summary
Researchers exposed human cells to a 50-Hz magnetic field (the same frequency as power lines) and found it protected cells from dying when they were later exposed to a toxic chemical. The magnetic field triggered the release of reactive oxygen species from mitochondria (the cell's power plants), which activated protective cellular pathways. This suggests extremely low frequency magnetic fields can influence fundamental cellular survival mechanisms.
Why This Matters
This study reveals something fascinating about how power frequency magnetic fields interact with our cellular machinery. At 0.4 milliTesla, the exposure level is roughly 1,000 times stronger than typical household magnetic field exposures but within ranges found near some electrical equipment. What's particularly intriguing is the protective effect the researchers observed. The magnetic field didn't harm cells directly, but rather appeared to prime them against subsequent damage by activating antioxidant pathways. This challenges the simple narrative that EMF exposure is always harmful and highlights how complex these biological interactions really are. The study demonstrates that even brief magnetic field exposures can trigger measurable changes in mitochondrial function and cellular signaling pathways, effects that persist after the exposure ends.
Exposure Details
- Magnetic Field
- 0.4 mG
- Source/Device
- 50-Hz
- Exposure Duration
- 5, 15, 30, 60 or 120 min
Exposure Context
This study used 0.4 mG for magnetic fields:
- 20Kx above the Building Biology guideline of 0.2 mG
- 4Kx above the BioInitiative Report recommendation of 1 mG
Building Biology guidelines are practitioner-based limits from real-world assessments. BioInitiative Report recommendations are based on peer-reviewed science. Check Your Exposure to compare your own measurements.
Where This Falls on the Concern Scale
Study Details
In the present study, the aim was to explore the possible biological implications of MF-induced transient MPT
Human amniotic (FL) cells were exposed to MF for different durations or intensities followed by incu...
MF exposure had a protective effect against early apoptosis induced by staurosporine, which could be...
the present study indicated a possibility that mitochondrial ROS release through mPTP and subsequent Akt activation were necessary for the anti-apoptotic effect of MF.
Show BibTeX
@article{b_2016_mitochondrial_ros_release_and_362,
author = {Feng B and Ye C and Qiu L and Chen L and Fu Y and Sun W},
title = {Mitochondrial ROS release and subsequent Akt Activation potentially mediated the anti-apoptotic effect of a 50-Hz magnetic field on FL cells.},
year = {2016},
url = {https://www.karger.com/Article/Abstract/445599},
}