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Oxidative Stress

Coupling of oxidative stress responses to tricarboxylic acid cycle and prostaglandin E2 alterations in Caenorhabditis elegans under extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field

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Sun Y, Shi Z, Wang Y, Tang C, Liao Y, Yang C, Cai P · 2018

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Exposure to 50 Hz, 3 mT ELF-EMF in C. elegans disrupted TCA cycle metabolism and prostaglandin E2 formation, coupled with oxidative stress responses.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers exposed Caenorhabditis elegans to 50 Hz, 3 mT extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields from the egg stage until the fourth larva stage. Reactive oxygen species levels were significantly elevated and total antioxidant capacity was significantly depressed in the exposed worms. The TCA cycle enzyme fumarase showed decreased expression, while arachidonic acid, prostaglandin E2, and prostaglandin E2 synthase all showed increased levels in exposed worms.

Why This Matters

TCA cycle enzyme expression was measured using qRT-PCR and western blot analysis after exposure. Two lipid metabolites were detected by GC-MS, and reactive oxygen species level was detected by dichlorofluorescein staining. The antioxidant system was investigated through enzymatic activity analysis, including superoxide dismutase, catalase activity, and total antioxidant capacity. The researchers suggested their results point to disruptions of TCA cycle metabolism and prostaglandin E2 formation coupled with oxidative stress responses under ELF-EMF exposure.

Exposure Details

Magnetic Field
3 mT
Source/Device
50-Hz

Exposure Context

This study used 3 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: 3 mTExtreme Concern - 5 mGFCC Limit - 2,000 mGEffects observed in the Extreme Concern range (Building Biology)This level is 15 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 objective of the present study was to investigate the physiological responses of Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) to 50 Hz, 3 mT ELF-EMF exposure.

Worms were exposed to ELF-EMF from the egg stage until reaching the fourth larva (L4) stage. After e...

The TCA cycle enzyme, fumarase was found with decreased expression under ELF-EMF exposure. And arach...

Our results suggested that exposure to 50 Hz, 3 mT ELF-EMF in C. elegans can elicit disruptions of the TCA cycle metabolism and PGE2 formation, coupling ELF-EMF-induced oxidative stress responses. Our study probably will attract increasing attentions to the controllable application of ELF-EMF associated with health and disease.

Cite This Study
Sun Y, Shi Z, Wang Y, Tang C, Liao Y, Yang C, Cai P (2018). Coupling of oxidative stress responses to tricarboxylic acid cycle and prostaglandin E2 alterations in Caenorhabditis elegans under extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field Int J Radiat Biol. 2018 Oct 11:1-8. doi: 10.1080/09553002.2019.1524943.
Show BibTeX
@article{y_2018_coupling_of_oxidative_stress_469,
  author = {Sun Y and Shi Z and Wang Y and Tang C and Liao Y and Yang C and Cai P},
  title = {Coupling of oxidative stress responses to tricarboxylic acid cycle and prostaglandin E2 alterations in Caenorhabditis elegans under extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field},
  year = {2018},
  doi = {10.1080/09553002.2019.1524943},
  url = {https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09553002.2019.1524943},
}
DOI: 10.1080/09553002.2019.1524943

Cited By (13 papers)

Quick Questions About This Study

The study investigated the physiological responses of Caenorhabditis elegans, referred to as C. elegans.
Worms were exposed to 50 Hz, 3 mT ELF-EMF from the egg stage until reaching the fourth larva stage.
A significant elevation of ROS level was identified, accompanied by a significant depression of total antioxidant capacity.
Arachidonic acid and prostaglandin E2 showed elevated concentrations, with increased expression of prostaglandin E2 synthase in the exposed worms.
The researchers suggested that ELF-EMF exposure can elicit disruptions of TCA cycle metabolism and PGE2 formation, coupled with oxidative stress responses.