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5-R01-ES 5735-03
A.S. Henderson, Hunter College of CUNY, New York, NY
This study will determine if characteristics of neoplastic transformation and/or immortalization occur in human cell human cells exposed to ELF EM fields at 60 Hz. The goals are: 1) determine alteration of expression of cellular proto-oncogenes (measurement of mRNA transcripts and resulting proteins); 2) determine if there are changes in cell divisional rates; 3) investigate the role of signal transduction in cell response to ELF EM fields.
5-R01-ES 6128-02
C.V. Byus, University of California, Riverside, CA
The mouse skin model of multistage carcinogenesis will be used (juvenile female Sencar mice).There will be an initial skin treatment with DMBA (tumor initiator), weekly treatments with TPA (promotor) while being exposed to a uniform (+ 10%) 60 Hz 2 mT magnetic field (also one lower field) either continuously or intermittently. A battery of bioassays will be aimed at identifying the biological interaction mechanism and cellular structures involved.
5-R29-ES 5970-02
S.R. Mehta, Roger Williams Medical Center, Providence, RI
Specific aims of this work: 1) demonstrate whether EMF exposure causes modifications in the proliferation, differentiation and cytokine production of normal and neoplastic B-cells; 2) determine whether under EMF exposure, neoplastic B-cells (human B-cell lines which are growth-factor (BCGF) dependent-and normal activated B-cells) fail to differentiate because of a) lack of interleukin-6 receptors, b) over-expression of growth factor receptors, c) lack of an appropriate source of growth and differentiation factors, and 3) observing EMF effects in a quasi-functional human immune system in severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice.
1-R01-ES 6285-01
M.R. Wrensch, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
This is a large, NCI-funded, population-based case-control study of malignant glioma in the San Francisco Bay area. Cases (n=550) are adults newly diagnosed with histologically confirmed malignant glioma from 8/1/91-7/30/94. This will be the first study of adult brain cancer to combine information on EMF exposures from residential, occupational, and other sources as well as the first to provide residential EMF exposure information in addition to that contained in wire-codes.
J.L. Kirschvink, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA
Human brain tissue precipitates a ferromagnetic material, magnetite (Fe3O4). Human magnetite crystals resemble closely those precipitated by magnetotactic bacteria and pelagic fish. These crystals are unique in living organisms because they are permanently magnetized and interact over 10(6) times more strongly with external magnetic fields than do other biogenic materials. Biophysical analyses have shown that the mechanical oscillations of magnetosomes can lead to significant biological effects in 60 Hz magnetic fields. This work is to develop immunological and histological methods for localizing the magnetite in situ. Magnetosome bacteria (A. Magnetotacticum) and chiton teeth (Po1yp1acophoran mollusks) will be studied.
C.B. Grissom, University of Utah; College of Science, Salt Lake City, UT
The primary focus is to develop new techniques for studying enzymes with radical intermediates and contribute to a more complete understanding of the role of magnetic spin chemistry in the enzymes with unpaired electrons. The work will also determine the effect of a magnetic field on the photolysis of vitamin B-12 (cobalamin) cofactors by laser flash photolysis.
J.C. Weaver, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Both biologically generated fields in tissues ("biological background") and fundamental physical fluctuations ("noise") have been cited as precluding "weak field" biological effects. Thus, basic questions relating to "detection" of EMF (response really due an external EMF field) fields by biological systems must be addressed. Theoretical models have been developed for (1) the thermal noise limit for the responses of cells to an electric field, (2) electroconformational coupling of membrane enzymes, (3) electroporation-related phenomena. Preliminary results indicate a model for altered molecular protrusion and the threshold for a magnetic interaction with soluble intracellular molecules. The emphasis is on predicting the dependence on key parameters and estimating thresholds for bioelectromagnetic effects.
K.J. McLeod, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, NY
The objective of this study is to isolate those specific aspects of ELF electric fields (frequency, intensity, duration) which modulate cell behavior, and to identify the biophysical and morphologic properties of a cell which will promote its susceptibility to this exposure. It is proposed that the capacity of the electric field to modulate cell behavior is dependent not only on the frequency and strength of the field, but the interaction is also strongly dependent on the physical properties of the cell which is exposed. In vitro cell systems will be studied with low intensity (less than 100 uV/cm) and 10-100 Hz.
R. P. Liburdy, Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, CA
Preliminary data show that 45Ca+2 influx is decreased or increased as the AC/DC field ratio is varied according to Lednev parametric theory. In real time fluorescence measurements of [Ca+2] for Con-A activated rat thymocytes during AC/DC field exposures [1.8 AC/DC]; the plateau phase of [Ca+2] decreases significantly after 100 seconds of mitogen activation. A decrease in [Ca+2] and [pH] was also shown with a second mitogen, TPA at the same field conditions. Further work will be done to see what specific AC/DC field combination's increase or decrease calcium signaling in mitogen-activated thymocytes. Selected AC/DC fields ratios that alter calcium signaling will be tested for changes in cell viability and cell proliferation (DNA synthesis).
O.P. Gandhi, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
Developing a new high-resolution, anatomically based model to calculate internal E-fields and induced currents for exposure to EM fields associated with 50/60 Hz power lines.
5-R01-ES 5973-02
L.M. Loew, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT
Propose: to test the hypothesis that the field induces a redistribution of cell surface molecules which may serve to locally amplify the membrane potential. Also that voltage-dependent calcium channels are among the redistributed molecules and Ca2+ channels, clustered this way, produce foci of increased calcium activity which mediate cellular responses. Two cell types will be used. NIE-115 neuroblastoma cells have calcium channels which are heterogeneously distributed and appear to be involved in neurite outgrowth and they will be used as a model for galvanotropism. The dynamics of cell surface molecules and calcium levels to the movement of fish keratocytes have been studied and they also exhibit directed motility in electric fields.
5-R01-ES 6137-02
S.M. Yellon, Loma Linda University; School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA
The research approach uses the Djungarian hamster to test the hypotheses about the effects of 60 Hz magnetic field exposure on biological time-keeping and the neural mechanism that controls reproductive development. In the Djungarian hamster in long days (16L:8D), acute exposure for 15 min to a 1 Gauss 60 Hz magnetic field (2 h before darkness) reduced the nocturnal increase in pineal and circulating melatonin concentrations. Adults in short days for 6 weeks (10L:14 D, male and female) were exposed to 60 Hz, 1 Gauss magnetic field for 15 min beginning 2 h before lights off.