Expressions of some antioxidant genes in SH-SY5Y cells treated with β-lapachone, morphine and electromagnetic field.
Mahmoudinasab H, Saadat M. · 2018
View Original AbstractBrief magnetic field exposures disrupted protective antioxidant genes in brain cells, suggesting cellular defense systems respond to EMF in real time.
Plain English Summary
Researchers exposed human brain cells (neuroblastoma cells) to 50 Hz electromagnetic fields at 0.5 mT for different time patterns and measured changes in antioxidant gene expression. They found that EMF exposure altered the activity of genes responsible for protecting cells from damage, with different exposure patterns producing different effects. This suggests that even brief EMF exposures can disrupt the cellular machinery that defends against oxidative stress.
Why This Matters
This study adds to growing evidence that electromagnetic field exposure can interfere with our cells' natural defense systems. The researchers found that 0.5 mT magnetic fields - comparable to standing very close to some household appliances or electrical panels - altered the expression of genes that produce antioxidant enzymes. What makes this particularly concerning is that these changes occurred with exposures as brief as 15 minutes. The fact that different exposure patterns (intermittent versus continuous) produced different genetic responses suggests our cells are actively responding to EMF in real time, not just experiencing passive damage. This research matters because antioxidant systems are your cells' first line of defense against damage that can lead to aging, disease, and dysfunction.
Exposure Details
- Magnetic Field
- 0.5 mG
- Source/Device
- 50 Hz
- Exposure Duration
- 15 min field-on/15 min field-off” and “30 min field-on continuously
Exposure Context
This study used 0.5 mG for magnetic fields:
- 25Kx above the Building Biology guideline of 0.2 mG
- 5Kx 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
The goal of the present study was to examine the effects of Mor and EMF, in combination with β-Lap on the cell growth inhibition and expression of several antioxidant genes.
The 0.50 mT intensity of 50 Hz EMF and two exposure conditions (“15 min field-on/15 min field-off” a...
Whereas NQO1 mRNA level decreased in the “15 min field-on/15 min field-off” condition, the expressio...
Show BibTeX
@article{h_2018_expressions_of_some_antioxidant_416,
author = {Mahmoudinasab H and Saadat M.},
title = {Expressions of some antioxidant genes in SH-SY5Y cells treated with β-lapachone, morphine and electromagnetic field.},
year = {2018},
doi = {10.1007/s11033-018-4172-1},
url = {https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11033-018-4172-1},
}