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Cell activating capacity of 50 Hz magnetic fields to release reactive oxygen intermediates in human umbilical cord blood-derived monocytes and in Mono Mac 6 cells.

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Lupke M, Rollwitz J, Simkó M. · 2004

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Exposure to 50 Hz magnetic fields at 1 mT increased superoxide radical and ROS production in human monocytes and Mono Mac 6 cells, with Mono Mac 6 cells showing greater sensitivity.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers investigated how 50 Hz extremely low frequency magnetic fields activate human cells to release reactive oxygen intermediates. They examined free radical production in human umbilical cord blood-derived monocytes and in human Mono Mac 6 cells. Exposure to 1 mT ELF-MF for 45 minutes produced a significant increase in superoxide radical anion production of up to 1.4 fold and an increase in ROS release of up to 1.2 fold in monocytes. Mono Mac 6 cells showed superoxide radical anion and ROS production of up to 1.4 and 1.5 fold, respectively, leading the researchers to suggest these cells are more sensitive to ELF-MF than monocytes.

Why This Matters

The researchers used nitroblue tetrazolium chloride to analyze superoxide radical anion release and dihydrorhodamine 123 to detect total reactive oxygen species. To identify which enzyme pathway was involved, the researchers applied diphenyleneiodonium chloride, a specific inhibitor for the NADPH oxidase. In monocytes, this inhibitor blocked the magnetic field effect, indicating activation of the NADPH oxidase after exposure. In Mono Mac 6 cells the inhibitor did not block the magnetic field effect, leading the researchers to suggest that ELF-MF exposure instead activates NADH oxidase in those cells.

Exposure Details

Magnetic Field
1 mT
Source/Device
50 Hz
Exposure Duration
45 min

Exposure Context

This study used 1 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: 1 mTExtreme Concern - 5 mGFCC Limit - 2,000 mGEffects observed in the Extreme Concern range (Building Biology)This level is 5 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

The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanism of cell activation induced by extremely low frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MF) (50 Hz) in human cells.

We examined the production of free radicals in human umbilical cord blood-derived monocytes and in h...

Our results show a significant increase of superoxide radical anion production up-to 1.4 fold as wel...

Therefore, we suggest that ELF-MF exposure induces the activation of NADH oxidase in these cells. However, the MF-effect was inhibited by DPI in monocytes, indicating the activation of the NADPH oxidase after exposure to ELF-MF.

Cite This Study
Lupke M, Rollwitz J, Simkó M. (2004). Cell activating capacity of 50 Hz magnetic fields to release reactive oxygen intermediates in human umbilical cord blood-derived monocytes and in Mono Mac 6 cells. Free Radic Res. 38(9):985-993, 2004.
Show BibTeX
@article{m_2004_cell_activating_capacity_of_412,
  author = {Lupke M and Rollwitz J and Simkó M.},
  title = {Cell activating capacity of 50 Hz magnetic fields to release reactive oxygen intermediates in human umbilical cord blood-derived monocytes and in Mono Mac 6 cells.},
  year = {2004},
  doi = {10.1080/10715760400000968},
  url = {https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10715760400000968},
}
DOI: 10.1080/10715760400000968

Cited By (85 papers)

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Quick Questions About This Study

The study used human umbilical cord blood-derived monocytes and human Mono Mac 6 cells.
Cells were exposed to 50 Hz extremely low frequency magnetic fields at 1 mT for 45 minutes.
Monocytes showed a significant increase in superoxide radical anion production of up to 1.4 fold and an increase in ROS release of up to 1.2 fold.
Mono Mac 6 cells showed higher superoxide radical anion and ROS production of up to 1.4 and 1.5 fold, respectively, and the researchers indicated these cells are more sensitive to ELF-MF than monocytes.
The researchers suggested different pathways were activated: NADPH oxidase in monocytes and NADH oxidase in Mono Mac 6 cells.