Effect of Low Frequency Electromagnetic Fields (LF-EMFs) on c-myc Oncogene Expression Level in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs)

Abstract

Low frequency electromagnetic fields (LF-EMFs) which can be generated from homes and workplaces appliances can lead to alteration in oncogenes causing cancer diseases such as leukemia, nervous system tumors, lymphoma and breast cancer. To investigate the effect of LF-EMFs on c-myc oncogene expression level, primary cell culture of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were exposed to AC (50 Hz) electromagnetic flux density: 0.37mT, 0.82mT, 1.22mT, 1.68mT, 2.1mT, 2.47mT, 2.85mT, 3.33mT, 3.72mT, 3.92mT, 4.32mT and 4.67mT using exposure unit. After four days of exposure, when initial changes in cell viability, morphology and count between exposed and unexposed cells were noted, total RNA was extracted to evaluate the expression level of c-myc oncogene by quantitative real time PCR (qRT-PCR). The results showed that c-myc oncogene expression level began to increase gradually from value 1.69% at 0.82mT reaching to the maximum expression level value 4.65% at 4.67mT. This result refers to an increasing in LF-EMFs exposure offset by an increasing in c-myc oncogene expression level, affecting different cellular functions. This study indicates that LF-EMF is environmental pollution effects on the expression level of oncogenes which increase the risk of human cancer diseases.