Online ISSN: 1097-4652    Print ISSN: 0021-9541 Journal of Cellular Physiology Volume 192, Issue 1, 2002. Pages: 16-22 Published Online: 26 Apr 2002 Copyright © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

^*Correspondence to Reba Goodman, Department of Pathology, Columbia University Health Sciences, New York, NY.

Funded by:
 US Department of Energy
 Heineman Foundation
 National Institute of Environmental Health
 Robert I Goodman Fund

Abstract

Low frequency (< 300 Hz) electromagnetic (EM) fields induce biological changes that include effects ranging from increased enzyme reaction rates to increased transcript levels for specific genes. The induction of stress gene HSP70 expression by exposure to EM fields provides insight into how EM fields interact with cells and tissues. Insights into the mechanism(s) are also provided by examination of the interaction of EM fields with moving charges and their influence on enzyme reaction rates in cell-free systems. Biological studies with in vitro model systems have focused, in general, on the nature of the signal transduction pathways involved in response to EM fields. It is likely, however, that EM fields also interact directly with electrons in DNA to stimulate biosynthesis. Identification of an EM field-sensitive DNA sequence in the heat shock 70 (HSP70) promoter, points to the application of EM fields in two biomedical applications: cytoprotection and gene therapy. EM field induction of the stress protein hsp70 may also provide a useful biomarker for establishing a science-based safety standard for the design of cell phones and their transmission towers. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1002/jcp.10098