Effects of ultra-weak fractal electromagnetic signals on the aqueous phase in living systems: a test-case analysis of molecular rejuvenation markers in fibroblasts

Abstract

Skin aging is primarily associated with the alterations in dermal extracellular matrix, in particular a decrease in collagen type-1 content. Recent studies have shown that collagen-degrading matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-1) is produced by fibroblasts in response to chronoaging, which in human dermal fibroblasts leads to the release of proinflammatory cytokines. Past studies showed that anti-inflammatory capabilities could be induced via non-chemical means. One of these methods makes use of ultra-weak fractal electromagnetic (uwf-EM) signals. Such ultra-/very-low frequency (U/VLF) signals (few nT in intensity and within 0.5–30 kHz) interact with aqueous solutions in living systems. The fractal nature of such EM-signals relates to the self-similar property by which a “cut-out” and magnified piece of this signal reveals again the original. Thus, the aim of this study is twofold, to i) investigate the extent of this modulating effect using Human Dermal Fibroblasts (HDF)-cells, and ii) analyse molecular rejuvenation markers therein. We could demonstrate that a 10 min uwf-EM exposure (prior to incubation) increases type-1 collagen and modulates elastin in human fibroblasts cultured up to 96 h, while at the same time reduces IL-6, TNF-α and MMP-1 (the later three being statistically significant). Such up- respectively down-regulation of corresponding genes are strong indicators of an EM-induced hormetic effect that influences the epigenomic landscape of HDFs. In the Appendix, we present, in the framework of Quantum Field Theory (QFT), water as a biphasic liquid and how its coherent fraction can be affected by uwf-EM signals while at the same time resolving the “kT paradox”.