NO EFFECT OF 60 HZ ELECTROMAGNETIC-FIELDS ON MYC OR BETA-ACTIN EXPRESSION IN HUMAN LEUKEMIC-CELLS

Epidemiological studies have shown weak correlations between exposure to extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields(ELF EMFs) and the in cidence of several cancers, particularly childhood leukemias, although negative studies have also been reported. These observations have pro mpted a broad range of in vitro cellular studies in which effects of E LF EMFs have been observed. However, no reported response has been rep licated widely in independent laboratories. One potentially important response is the rapid activation of proto-oncogenes and other genes in human leukemic (HL60) cells and a wide variety of other eukaryotic ce lls, because of the role of these genes in cell proliferation. We desc ribe quantitative Northern analysis of MYC and beta-actin mRNAs from H L60 cells exposed to fields under conditions very similar to those rep orted previously to activate these genes, namely 60 Hz sinusoidal magn etic fields of 0.57, 5.7 or 57 mu T for 20 min. In addition we have us ed a new design of field-exposure system and introduced a number of ot her modifications to the protocol to optimize any response. We have al so developed a novel method providing enhanced accuracy for the quanti tative measurement of mRNA. No significant effect of ELF EMFs on gene expression was observed using any of these systems and analytical meth ods. (C) 1995 by Radiation Research Society