Weak electromagnetic fields (50 Hz) elicit a stress response in human cells

The aim of this study was to demonstrate the expression of heat shock (HS) genes in human cells in response to extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF) alone and in combination with thermal stress. After exposing human myeloid leukemia (HL-60) cells to the stressor(s) for 30 min we quantified the expression of the HS genes HSP27, HSP60, HSP70 (A, B, and C), HSC70, HSP75, HSP78, and HSP90 (α and β) by RT-PCR. The results clearly show that HS genes, in particular the three HSP70 genes (A, B, and C), are induced by ELF-EMF, a reaction that is enhanced by simultaneous HS (43°C for 30 min). The results show similarities and some significant differences to previous experiments in which transgenic nematodes were used to monitor the induction of the HSP70 gene under similar stress conditions. We also studied the effect of different flux densities on gene expression in the range of 10–140 μT. Even the lowest dose tested (10 μT) resulted in a significant induction of the genes HSP70A, HSP70B, and HSP70C. The reaction to ELF-EMF shows a maximum at a flux density of 60–80 μT. The unusual dose–response relation reveals an interesting difference to other stressors that elicit the HS response.