Progress in assessing biological effects of magnetic fields using model organism Caenorhabditis elegans

Abstract

With the increasing usage of magnetic fields in household appliance, material science, medicine and communication, its effects on human health and the environment have drawn great concern. So far there is no clear and definitive evidence of its negative influence on humans. In recent decades, increasing studies have been performed in order to understand the influence of magnetic fields on living organisms. Among them the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) plays an important role in exploring the biological effects of magnetic fields, due to its advantages of genetic manipulability, invariant and fully described developmental program, well-characterized genome, easy maintenance, as well as short and prolific life cycle. Biological effects of magnetic fields are found to be closely dependent on the field properties and electromagnetic properties of biological tissues. This review describes the classification of magnetic fields, electromagnetic properties of biological tissues and the advantages of C. elegans i n s tudying m agnetic f ields. T he biological effects of m agnetic f ields on C. elegans are summarized as slowing growth, shortening life span, decreasing total fecundity, weakening locomotory capability and causing behavior disorders. Results indicate that the biological effects induced by magnetic fields on C. elegans are crucially regulated by the genes associated with development and aging, as well as the pathways related to apoptosis and insulin/IGF-1. The magnetic fields may also increase oxidative stress, enhance energy metabolism and restrict dietary in C. elegans, but the effects may be well tolerated or compensated for by the living organism. The interaction between magnetic fields and organisms is influenced by multiple parameters such as magnetic intensity, exposure time and magnetic field type. Different conditions could lead to opposite results. In addition, this review discusses the toxicity induced by magnetic field exposure, including developmental toxicity in embryos and the larvae stage, reproductive and genetic toxicity during pregnancy. We also reviewed the related new technologies including high throughput sequencing technology for sensitive gene target screening, immunohistochemistry combined with electron microscopic observation to assess epigenetic inheritance phenomenon, and drug delivery system for screening radioprotective agents.