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Reactive oxygen species mediates 50-Hz magnetic field-induced EGF receptor clustering via acid sphingomyelinase activation.

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Sun L, Chen L, Bai L, Xia Y, Yang X, Jiang W, Sun W. · 2018

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Exposure of human cells to a 50-Hz magnetic field at 0.4 mT for 15 minutes increased reactive oxygen species and induced EGFR clustering, effects that were blocked by ROS scavengers.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers exposed human amnion epithelial (FL) cells to a 50-Hz magnetic field and investigated the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in magnetic-field-induced clustering of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). When cells were pretreated with ROS scavengers NAC or PDTC before exposure, both the ROS-related effects and the EGFR clustering were inhibited. The researchers concluded that ROS mediates magnetic-field-induced EGFR clustering via ASMase activation.

Why This Matters

The study used human amnion epithelial cells, and EGFR clustering on the cell membrane surface was analyzed using confocal microscopy after indirect immunofluorescence staining. Intracellular ROS levels and ASMase activity were measured with an ROS assay kit and an Amplex® Red Sphingomyelinase Assay Kit. The researchers noted that earlier work had already shown that 50-Hz magnetic field exposure could induce EGFR clustering and phosphorylation on cell membranes, and this study built on that finding. The authors noted that the mechanisms by which extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields interact with biological systems are currently unclear.

Exposure Details

Magnetic Field
0.4 mT
Source/Device
50-Hz
Exposure Duration
15 min

Exposure Context

This study used 0.4 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: 0.4 mTExtreme Concern - 5 mGFCC Limit - 2,000 mGEffects observed in the Extreme Concern range (Building Biology)This level is 2 times the FCC limit
A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 50 Hz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 50 HzCell phones~1 GHzWiFi2.4 GHz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Study Details

Exposure to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMFs) could elicit biological effects including carcinogenesis. However, the detailed mechanisms by which these ELF-EMFs interact with biological system are currently unclear. Previously, we found that a 50-Hz magnetic field (MF) exposure could induce epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) clustering and phosphorylation on cell membranes. In the present experiment, the possible roles of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in MF-induced EGFR clustering were investigated.

Human amnion epithelial (FL) cells were exposed to a 50-Hz MF with or without N-acetyl-l-cysteine (N...

Results showed that exposure of FL cells to a 50-Hz MF at 0.4 mT for 15 min significantly enhanced t...

The present and previous data suggest that ROS mediates the MF-induced EGFR clustering via ASMase activation.

Cite This Study
Sun L, Chen L, Bai L, Xia Y, Yang X, Jiang W, Sun W. (2018). Reactive oxygen species mediates 50-Hz magnetic field-induced EGF receptor clustering via acid sphingomyelinase activation. Int J Radiat Biol. 94(7):678-684, 2018.
Show BibTeX
@article{l_2018_reactive_oxygen_species_mediates_468,
  author = {Sun L and Chen L and Bai L and Xia Y and Yang X and Jiang W and Sun W.},
  title = {Reactive oxygen species mediates 50-Hz magnetic field-induced EGF receptor clustering via acid sphingomyelinase activation.},
  year = {2018},
  doi = {10.1080/09553002.2018.1466208},
  url = {https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09553002.2018.1466208},
}
DOI: 10.1080/09553002.2018.1466208

Cited By (11 papers)

Quick Questions About This Study

Human amnion epithelial (FL) cells were exposed to a 50-Hz magnetic field at 0.4 mT for 15 minutes.
Exposure significantly enhanced the ROS level, induced EGFR clustering, and increased ASMase activity.
Pretreatment with NAC or PDTC counteracted the effects on ROS level and ASMase activity, and also inhibited the EGFR clustering induced by magnetic field exposure.
The researchers suggested that ROS mediates the magnetic-field-induced EGFR clustering via ASMase activation.
EGFR clustering on the cellular membrane surface was analyzed using confocal microscopy after indirect immunofluorescence staining.