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Extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields activate the ERK cascade, increase hsp70 protein levels and promote regeneration in Planaria

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Reba Goodman, Avary Lin-Ye, Matthew S. Geddis, Priya J. Wickramaratne, Susan E. Hodge, Spiro P. Pantazatos, Martin Blank & Richard T. Ambron · 2009

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ELF-EMF exposure caused a significant increase in regeneration in planaria and elevated levels of the heat shock protein hsp70.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers used regenerating planaria Dugesia dorotocethala as a model to determine whether an intermittent modulated extremely low frequency electromagnetic field produces elevated levels of hsp70 and stimulates intracellular pathways known to be involved in injury and repair. Individual head and tail portions from the same worm were exposed to a 60 Hertz 80 milliGauss ELF-EMF for 1 h twice daily for 15 days post-transection. ELF-EMF exposure caused a significant increase in regeneration for both heads and tails, and exposed tails developed eyes at day seven post-transection, while sham control tails showed the first appearance of eyes 48 h later. Exposed animals also showed an elevation in hsp70 protein, an activation of an ERK cascade, and an increase in SRF-SRE binding.

Why This Matters

The study focused on serum response element (SRE) binding through the extra-cellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) cascade as a pathway associated with injury and repair. Exposures were delivered using a Helmholtz configuration at a frequency of 60 Hz and 80 mG twice a day for one hour. The regenerating heads and tails were photographed and their lengths measured at three-day intervals, while the timing of eye appearance in tail portions was monitored at 12-h intervals. Protein lysates were analysed for hsp70 levels, doubly phosphorylated (pp)-ERK, Elk-1 kinase activity and serum response factor (SRF)-SRE binding. The researchers noted that increased regeneration was accompanied by an increase in hsp70 protein levels, activation of specific kinases, and upregulation of transcription factors that are generally associated with repair processes.

Exposure Details

Magnetic Field
0.008 mT
Source/Device
60 Hz
Exposure Duration
1 h twice daily for 15 days

Exposure Context

This study used 0.008 mT for magnetic fields:

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 Exposure Level in ContextStudy Exposure Level in ContextThis study: 0.008 mTExtreme Concern - 5 mGFCC Limit - 2,000 mGEffects observed in the Extreme Concern range (Building Biology)FCC limit is 25 times higher than this level
A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 60 Hz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 60 HzCell phones~1 GHzWiFi2.4 GHz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Study Details

To use regenerating Planaria Dugesia dorotocethala as a model to determine whether an intermittent modulated extremely low frequency electro-magnetic field (ELF-EMF) produces elevated levels of the heat shock protein hsp70 and stimulates intracellular pathways known to be involved in injury and repair. We focused on serum response element (SRE) binding through the extra-cellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) cascade.

Planaria were transected equidistant between the tip of the head and the tip of the tail. Individual...

ELF-EMF exposure during the initial 3-days post-surgery caused a significant increase in regeneratio...

Exposures to a modulated sinusoidal ELF-EMF were delivered by a Helmholtz configuration at a frequency of 60 Hz and 80 mG twice a day for one hour. This is accompanied by an increase in hsp70 protein levels, activation of specific kinases and upregulation of transcription factors that are generally associated with repair processes.

Cite This Study
Reba Goodman, Avary Lin-Ye, Matthew S. Geddis, Priya J. Wickramaratne, Susan E. Hodge, Spiro P. Pantazatos, Martin Blank & Richard T. Ambron (2009). Extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields activate the ERK cascade, increase hsp70 protein levels and promote regeneration in Planaria (2009) International Journal of Radiation Biology, 85:10, 851-859, DOI: 10.1080/09553000903072488.
Show BibTeX
@article{goodman_2009_extremely_low_frequency_electromagnetic_784,
  author = {Reba Goodman and Avary Lin-Ye and Matthew S. Geddis and Priya J. Wickramaratne and Susan E. Hodge and Spiro P. Pantazatos and Martin Blank & Richard T. Ambron},
  title = {Extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields activate the ERK cascade, increase hsp70 protein levels and promote regeneration in Planaria},
  year = {2009},
  doi = {10.1080/09553000903072488},
  url = {https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09553000903072488},
}
DOI: 10.1080/09553000903072488

Cited By (71 papers)

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Quick Questions About This Study

The study used regenerating planaria Dugesia dorotocethala as a model organism.
The field was delivered at a frequency of 60 Hz and 80 mG twice a day for one hour.
Eyes first appeared at day seven post-transection in ELF-EMF-exposed tails, while in sham control tails the initial appearance of eyes occurred 48 h later.
Exposed heads and tails showed an elevation in the level of hsp70 protein, an activation of an ERK cascade, and an increase in SRF-SRE binding.
ELF-EMF exposure caused a significant increase in regeneration for both heads and tails, but especially tails.