Electromagnetic field activation of voltage-gated calcium channels: role in therapeutic effects

Pall, Martin L.

doi:10.3109/15368378.2014.906447

Cited by 20 publications

(14 citation statements)

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“…Therapies currently employed include a wide range of bone growth and orthopedic rehabilitation regimens as well as some applications to enhance the uptake of chemotherapeutic agents (14). These numerous therapeutic effects are well established to be non-thermal and operate through increased levels of [Ca2+]i and nitric oxide (NO) signaling (2,14). The medical use of these pulsed fields provides therefore prima facie evidence that such fields are often more active in VGCC activation than are non-pulsed fields.…”

Section: Three Other Types Of Observations That Contradict the Assumpmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…At this point, there is much evidence implicating VGCC activation but no apparent evidence implicating other voltage-gated ion channels in low intensity EMF responses (1)(2)(3). Possible reasons for this should be assessed elsewhere.…”

Section: The Properties Of Vgccs and Other Voltage-gated Ion Channelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We are therefore in a situation where the paradigm of EMF action focused solely on heating (9-13), should be replaced by one based on VGCC activation of microwave and other EMFs (1)(2)(3).…”

Section: Emfs Act Via Stimulation Of Voltagegated Calcium Channels (Vmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Scientific evidence contradicts findings and assumptions of Canadian Safety Panel 6: microwaves act through voltage-gated calcium channel activation to induce biological impacts at non-thermal levels, supporting a paradigm shift for microwave/lower frequency electromagnetic field action

Pall

2015

Reviews on Environmental Health

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AbstractThis review considers a paradigm shift on microwave electromagnetic field (EMF) action from only thermal effects to action via voltage-gated calcium channel (VGCC) activation. Microwave/lower frequency EMFs were shown in two dozen studies to act via VGCC activation because all effects studied were blocked by calcium channel blockers. This mode of action was further supported by hundreds of studies showing microwave changes in calcium fluxes and intracellular calcium [Ca2+]i signaling. The biophysical properties of VGCCs/similar channels make them particularly sensitive to low intensity, non-thermal EMF exposures. Non-thermal studies have shown that in most cases pulsed fields are more active than are non-pulsed fields and that exposures within certain intensity windows have much large biological effects than do either lower or higher intensity exposures; these are both consistent with a VGCC role but inconsistent with only a heating/thermal role. Downstream effects of VGCC activation include calcium signaling, elevated nitric oxide (NO), NO signaling, peroxynitrite, free radical formation, and oxidative stress. Downstream effects explain repeatedly reported biological responses to non-thermal exposures: oxidative stress; single and double strand breaks in cellular DNA; cancer; male and female infertility; lowered melatonin/sleep disruption; cardiac changes including tachycardia, arrhythmia, and sudden cardiac death; diverse neuropsychiatric effects including depression; and therapeutic effects. Non-VGCC non-thermal mechanisms may occur, but none have been shown to have effects in mammals. Biologically relevant safety standards can be developed through studies of cell lines/cell cultures with high levels of different VGCCs, measuring their responses to different EMF exposures. The 2014 Canadian Report by a panel of experts only recognizes thermal effects regarding safety standards for non-ionizing radiation exposures. Its position is therefore contradicted by each of the observations above. The Report is assessed here in several ways including through Karl Popper’s assessment of strength of evidence. Popper argues that the strongest type of evidence is evidence that falsifies a theory; second strongest is a test of “risky prediction”; the weakest confirms a prediction that the theory could be correct but in no way rules out alternative theories. All of the evidence supporting the Report’s conclusion that only thermal effects need be considered are of the weakest type, confirming prediction but not ruling out alternatives. In contrast, there are thousands of studies apparently falsifying their position. The Report argues that there are no biophysically viable mechanisms for non-thermal effects (shown to be false, see above). It claims that there are many “inconsistencies” in the literature causing them to throw out large numbers of studies; however, the one area where it apparently documents this claim, that of genotoxicity, shows no inconsistencies; rather it shows that various cell types, fields and end points produce different responses, as should be expected. The Report claims that cataract formation is produced by thermal effects but ignores studies falsifying this claim and also studies showing [Ca2+]i and VGCC roles. It is time for a paradigm shift away from only thermal effects toward VGCC activation and consequent downstream effects.

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Section: Three Other Types Of Observations That Contradict the Assumpmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: The Properties Of Vgccs and Other Voltage-gated Ion Channelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Scientific evidence contradicts findings and assumptions of Canadian Safety Panel 6: microwaves act through voltage-gated calcium channel activation to induce biological impacts at non-thermal levels, supporting a paradigm shift for microwave/lower frequency electromagnetic field action

Pall

2015

Reviews on Environmental Health

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“…EMFs have been proposed to act to produce a wide variety of responses in the cell, via downstream effects of VGCC activation (Pall, 2013(Pall, , 2014(Pall, , 2015, including elevated intracellular calcium [Ca2+]i, excessive calcium and nitric oxide signaling and also excessive peroxynitrite, free radicals and oxidative stress.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Microwave frequency electromagnetic fields (EMFs) produce widespread neuropsychiatric effects including depression

Pall

2016

Journal of Chemical Neuroanatomy

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Non-thermal microwave/lower frequency electromagnetic fields (EMFs) act via voltage-gated calcium channel (VGCC) activation. Calcium channel blockers block EMF effects and several types of additional evidence confirm this mechanism. Low intensity microwave EMFs have been proposed to produce neuropsychiatric effects, sometimes called microwave syndrome, and the focus of this review is whether these are indeed well documented and consistent with the known mechanism(s) of action of such EMFs. VGCCs occur in very high densities throughout the nervous system and have near universal roles in release of neurotransmitters and neuroendocrine hormones. Soviet and Western literature shows that much of the impact of non-thermal microwave exposures in experimental animals occurs in the brain and peripheral nervous system, such that nervous system histology and function show diverse and substantial changes. These may be generated through roles of VGCC activation, producing excessive neurotransmitter/neuroendocrine release as well as oxidative/nitrosative stress and other responses. Excessive VGCC activity has been shown from genetic polymorphism studies to have roles in producing neuropsychiatric changes in humans. Two U.S. government reports from the 1970s to 1980s provide evidence for many neuropsychiatric effects of non-thermal microwave EMFs, based on occupational exposure studies. 18 more recent epidemiological studies, provide substantial evidence that microwave EMFs from cell/mobile phone base stations, excessive cell/mobile phone usage and from wireless smart meters can each produce similar patterns of neuropsychiatric effects, with several of these studies showing clear dose-response relationships. Lesser evidence from 6 additional studies suggests that short wave, radio station, occupational and digital TV antenna exposures may produce similar neuropsychiatric effects. Among the more commonly reported changes are sleep disturbance/insomnia, headache, depression/depressive symptoms, fatigue/tiredness, dysesthesia, concentration/attention dysfunction, memory changes, dizziness, irritability, loss of appetite/body weight, restlessness/anxiety, nausea, skin burning/tingling/dermographism and EEG changes. In summary, then, the mechanism of action of microwave EMFs, the role of the VGCCs in the brain, the impact of non-thermal EMFs on the brain, extensive epidemiological studies performed over the past 50 years, and five criteria testing for causality, all collectively show that various non-thermal microwave EMF exposures produce diverse neuropsychiatric effects.

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“…We noted in our previous recent paper that while resting lymphocytes maintain a low cytosolic calcium ion concentration, antigen receptor signaling results in calcium ion influx, predominantly via store-operated calcium (SOC) channels, and inhibition of lymphocyte calcium ion channel expression has been found to prevent experimental asthma [1,13,14]. Our new findings may be associated with the finding that electromagnetic fields activate voltage-gated calcium ion channels; Pall has recently suggested that such activation may produce adverse effects [15,16].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 54%

The effect of successful low-dose immunotherapy ascertained by provocation neutralization on lymphocytic calcium ion influx following electric field exposure

Puri

Segal²,

Monro³

2019

Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine

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AbstractBackgroundLow-dose immunotherapy affects baseline levels of intracellular calcium. However, the effect of background electric fields is yet to be ascertained. The aim of this study was to test the following hypotheses: desensitization by low-dose immunotherapy is associated with reduced calcium ion influx during electric field exposure; the effect of low-dose immunotherapy on intracellular calcium ion concentration does not depend on electric field exposure; and the intracellular calcium ion concentration is amplified by electric field exposure.MethodsThe experimental design was balanced and orthogonal. Intracellular lymphocytic calcium ion concentrations were assayed in 47 patients, following incubation with picogram amounts of 12 test allergens, using a cell-permeable calcium-sensing ratiometric fluorescent dye and fluorescence spectroscopy, both at baseline and following successful provocation neutralization treatment with low-dose immunotherapy. Duplicates were also exposed to an electric field which replicated the frequency spectrum measured in a non-Faraday shielded room.ResultsA significant or trend-level main effect was found for low-dose immunotherapy for: benzoate; formaldehyde; metabisulfite; natural gas; nitrosamines; organophosphates; salicylate; azo-dyes and precursors; nickel; and petrol (gasoline) exhaust. Significant or trend-level main effects for electric field exposure were observed for: formaldehyde; mercury (inorganic); natural gas; nickel; nitrosamines; petrol exhaust; salicylate; benzoate; and metabisulfite. There was no evidence of a statistical interaction between these two factors. Electric field exposure was associated with a higher intracellular calcium ion concentration.ConclusionThere was support for all three hypotheses. The results suggest that patients may experience increased sensitivity to allergens as a result of exposure to everyday electric fields.

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Electromagnetic field activation of voltage-gated calcium channels: role in therapeutic effects

Cited by 20 publications

References 4 publications

Scientific evidence contradicts findings and assumptions of Canadian Safety Panel 6: microwaves act through voltage-gated calcium channel activation to induce biological impacts at non-thermal levels, supporting a paradigm shift for microwave/lower frequency electromagnetic field action

Scientific evidence contradicts findings and assumptions of Canadian Safety Panel 6: microwaves act through voltage-gated calcium channel activation to induce biological impacts at non-thermal levels, supporting a paradigm shift for microwave/lower frequency electromagnetic field action

Microwave frequency electromagnetic fields (EMFs) produce widespread neuropsychiatric effects including depression

The effect of successful low-dose immunotherapy ascertained by provocation neutralization on lymphocytic calcium ion influx following electric field exposure

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