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Extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields affect the immune response of monocyte-derived macrophages to pathogens.

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Akan Z, Aksu B, Tulunay A, Bilsel S, Inhan-Garip A · 2010

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Exposing immune cells to extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields altered their response to bacterial challenges, including increased nitric oxide and heat shock protein levels.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers applied 50 Hz, 1 mT electromagnetic fields for 4 to 6 hours to human monocytic leukemia cells (THP-1) that had been stimulated with Staphylococcus aureus or interferon gamma/lipopolysaccharide. Field application increased nitric oxide levels, with the increase appearing earlier and being more prominent in cells stimulated with S. aureus. ELF-EMF alone caused increased hsp70 levels in a time-dependent manner, and the growth curve of exposed bacteria was lower than the control. The researchers suggested that ELF-EMF could be exploited for beneficial uses.

Why This Matters

The study used THP-1 cells, described as a human monocytic leukemia cell line, cultured and exposed to a 50 Hz, 1 mT field for 4 to 6 hours. Several markers were tracked, including nitric oxide, inducible nitric oxide synthase, heat shock protein 70 levels, cGMP, and caspase-9 activation. While nitric oxide levels rose with field exposure, a slight decrease was observed in iNOS levels. Increased cGMP levels in response to field application were closely correlated with increased NO levels. ELF-EMF suppressed caspase-9 activation by a small extent.

Exposure Details

Magnetic Field
1 mT
Source/Device
50 Hz
Exposure Duration
4–6 h

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

This study aimed to determine the effect of extremely low‐frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF‐EMF) on the physiological response of phagocytes to an infectious agent.

THP‐1 cells (human monocytic leukemia cell line) were cultured and 50 Hz, 1 mT EMF was applied for 4...

The growth curve of exposed bacteria was lower than the control. Field application increased NO leve...

These data confirm that ELF‐EMF affects bacterial growth and the response of the immune system to bacterial challenges, suggesting that ELF‐EMF could be exploited for beneficial uses

Cite This Study
Akan Z, Aksu B, Tulunay A, Bilsel S, Inhan-Garip A (2010). Extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields affect the immune response of monocyte-derived macrophages to pathogens. Bioelectromagnetics. 31(8):603-612, 2010.
Show BibTeX
@article{z_2010_extremely_lowfrequency_electromagnetic_fields_313,
  author = {Akan Z and Aksu B and Tulunay A and Bilsel S and Inhan-Garip A},
  title = {Extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields affect the immune response of monocyte-derived macrophages to pathogens.},
  year = {2010},
  doi = {10.1002/bem.20607},
  url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/bem.20607},
}
DOI: 10.1002/bem.20607

Cited By (53 papers)

View all 53 citing papers on Semantic Scholar

Quick Questions About This Study

The study used THP-1 cells, described as a human monocytic leukemia cell line, cultured and exposed to electromagnetic fields.
A 50 Hz, 1 mT electromagnetic field was applied for 4 to 6 hours.
The growth curve of exposed bacteria was lower than the control.
When cells were induced with S. aureus or IFγ/LPS, field application produced higher levels of hsp70.
The data suggested that ELF-EMF could be exploited for beneficial uses, based on its effects on bacterial growth and the response of the immune system to bacterial challenges.