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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2026

Molecular evolution and immune expression analysis of ELF transcription factors in Lethenteron reissneri.

As important members of the ETS superfamily, the E74-like factor (ELF) transcription factor family regulates gene transcription through a conserved ETS domain and plays critical roles in immune regulation. However, the evolutionary characteristics and functions of this family in lampreys (Lethenteron reissneri) remain unclear. In this study, the ELF gene family of lampreys (Lr-ELF1, Lr-ELF2, Lr-ELF3, and Lr-ELF5) was systematically identified, and their molecular evolutionary features and immune response functions were investigated. Phylogenetic analysis revealed evolutionary characteristics reflecting the transition from jawless to jawed vertebrates. Domain architecture, gene structure, and three-dimensional structural analyses indicated that these genes appear to be conserved among vertebrates, with their three-dimensional structures showing high similarity to the core secondary structural elements of human homologous proteins. Synteny analysis demonstrated significant differences in the genomic neighborhoods of ELF genes between lampreys and jawed vertebrates. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was performed with three biological and three technical replicates; relative expression levels were calculated using the ΔCt method, and statistical analysis was carried out with GraphPad Prism 9. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) results suggested that the ELF gene family may be involved in immune defense. This study not only enriches our understanding of the evolution of ELF genes but also provides new insights into the roles of lamprey ELFs in immune defense.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Developmental function of Elf-1: an essential transcription factor during embryogenesis in Drosophila.

The Drosophila transcription factor Elf-1 binds to a cis-acting element that is essential for neuronal expression of the Dopa decarboxylase gene (Ddc). Elf-1 also stimulates transcription from the Ddc and Ultrabithorax promoters in vitro. To investigate the function of this factor in vivo we have screened for mutations and identified the Elf-1 gene as grainyhead (grh), a previously known embryonic lethal locus. Elf-1/grh mutations cause late embryonic lethality accompanied by multiple defects in the cuticle and head skeleton. Using Ddc-lacZ gene fusions, we show that these mutations affect Ddc expression in the embryo. Surprisingly, however, epidermal expression is disrupted, whereas neuronal expression remains unaffected. Analysis of the mutant phenotype indicates that Elf-1 coordinately regulates multiple genes involved in the differentiation of epidermal structures. The results highlight the importance of genetic analysis in the study of proteins required for developmental regulation of gene expression.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Recent studies in the behavioral toxicology of ELF electric and magnetic fields.

Behavioral responses to ELF electric and magnetic fields are reviewed starting with the simple sensory awareness or detection by an animal and moving on through more-complicated behavioral responses such as behavior that averts exposure. The literature selected in this review is taken primarily from the area of behavioral toxicology. As such, it does not review work on specialized response systems to ELF fields. The most notable of these omitted specialized response systems are electroreception, (see Kalmijn, this volume), which occurs in a number of fish species, and homing/navigation and communication of the location of food that occurs in several species of birds and in honeybees, respectively. The toxicologic orientation of most researches that evaluate the effects of exposure to ELF electric and magnetic fields has been influenced primarily by the "missions" of DOE and the power industry programs to determine the health effects of power frequency (50- and 60-Hz) electric and magnetic fields. Because of these large programmatic efforts, most of the recent research has in fact been done at 50 or 60 Hz. In the context of the above limitations, remarkably few robust behavioral effects have been reported. Those that have been reported probably relate to an animal's perception of the electric field, although there are some exceptions to this generalization. The apparent lack of deleterious effects in animals is consistent with recent studies on humans that have been conducted in the UK. With this in mind, it is tempting to conclude that exposure to an ELF field is a rather innocuous event and, other than possible mini-shocks, is without hazard. However, if this is the case, then what sense are we to make of reports of altered neural function (other than behavior) that result from exposure to ELF fields (e.g., suppressed melatonin and SNAT activity in the rat pineal; efflux of calcium ions from brain cortices; histological change in the cerebellum and hippocampus following perinatal exposure, etc.)? Are these neural effects no more than "noise" to the behaving organism? Possible reasons form the disparity between cell biology, neurochemistry, and behavior have been presented in this chapter, and based on the hypothesized reasons for the existing disparity, a number of experiments were suggested.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Chronic exposure to ELF fields may induce depression.

Exposure to extremely-low-frequency (ELF) electric or magnetic fields has been postulated as a potentially contributing factor in depression. Epidemiologic studies have yielded positive correlations between magnetic- and/or electric-field strengths in local environments and the incidence of depression-related suicide. Chronic exposure to ELF electric or magnetic fields can disrupt normal circadian rhythms in rat pineal serotonin-N-acetyltransferase activity as well as in serotonin and melatonin concentrations. Such disruptions in the circadian rhythmicity of pineal melatonin secretion have been associated with certain depressive disorders in human beings. In the rat, ELF fields may interfere with tonic aspects of neuronal input to the pineal gland, giving rise to what may be termed "functional pinealectomy." If long-term exposure to ELF fields causes pineal dysfunction in human beings as it does in the rat, such dysfunction may contribute to the onset of depression or may exacerbate existing depressive disorders.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

A novel Ets-related transcription factor, Elf-1, binds to human immunodeficiency virus type 2 regulatory elements that are required for inducible trans activation in T cells.

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and HIV-2 are structurally related retroviruses which both cause AIDS in humans. Although both viruses establish latency in quiescent human-peripheral-blood T cells, the asymptomatic phase of HIV-2 infection may be more prolonged than that of HIV-1. The latent phases of both HIV-1 and HIV-2 infection have been shown to be disrupted by T-cell activation, a process that requires host cell transcription factors. In the case of HIV-1, the transcription factor NF-kappa B is sufficient for inducible transcriptional activation. In contrast, factors in addition to NF-kappa B are required to activate HIV-2 transcription in infected T cells. In this report, we demonstrate that a novel Ets-related transcription factor, Elf-1, binds specifically to two purine-rich motifs in the HIV-2 enhancer. Mutagenesis experiments demonstrated that these Elf-1 binding sites are required for induction of HIV-2 transcription following T-cell-receptor-mediated T-cell activation. Moreover, Elf-1 is the only factor present in activated T-cell nuclear extracts that binds to these sites in electrophoretic mobility shift assays. Thus, Elf-1 is a novel transcription factor that appears to be required for the T-cell-receptor-mediated trans activation of HIV-2 gene expression. These results may explain differences in the clinical spectra of diseases caused by HIV-1 and HIV-2 and may also have implications for the design of therapeutic approaches to HIV-2 infection.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

cis-acting sequences required for inducible interleukin-2 enhancer function bind a novel Ets-related protein, Elf-1.

The recent definition of a consensus DNA binding sequence for the Ets family of transcription factors has allowed the identification of potential Ets binding sites in the promoters and enhancers of many inducible T-cell genes. In the studies described in this report, we have identified two potential Ets binding sites, EBS1 and EBS2, which are conserved in both the human and murine interleukin-2 enhancers. Within the human enhancer, these two sites are located within the previously defined DNase I footprints, NFAT-1 and NFIL-2B, respectively. Electrophoretic mobility shift and methylation interference analyses demonstrated that EBS1 and EBS2 are essential for the formation of the NFAT-1 and NFIL-2B nuclear protein complexes. Furthermore, in vitro mutagenesis experiments demonstrated that inducible interleukin-2 enhancer function requires the presence of either EBS1 or EBS2. Two well-characterized Ets family members, Ets-1 and Ets-2, are reciprocally expressed during T-cell activation. Surprisingly, however, neither of these proteins bound in vitro to EBS1 or EBS2. We therefore screened a T-cell cDNA library under low-stringency conditions with a probe from the DNA binding domain of Ets-1 and isolated a novel Ets family member, Elf-1. Elf-1 contains a DNA binding domain that is nearly identical to that of E74, the ecdysone-inducible Drosophila transcription factor required for metamorphosis (hence the name Elf-1, for E74-like factor 1). Elf-1 bound specifically to both EBS1 and EBS2 in electrophoretic mobility shift assays. It also bound to the purine-rich CD3R element from the human immunodeficiency virus type 2 long terminal repeat, which is required for inducible virus expression in response to signalling through the T-cell receptor. Taken together, these results demonstrate that multiple Ets family members with apparently distinct DNA binding specificities regulate differential gene expression in resting and activated T cells.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Cancer incidence among welders: possible effects of exposure to extremely low frequency electromagnetic radiation (ELF) and to welding fumes.

Epidemiological studies of cancer incidence among welders disclose a pooled total of 146 cases of leukemia observed versus 159.46 expected, a risk ratio of 0.92, and 40 cases of acute leukemia observed versus 43.39 expected, a risk ratio of 0.92. For respiratory tract cancer, the pooled total is 1789 cases observed versus 1290.7 expected, a risk ratio of 1.39. Most electric welders are exposed to extremely low frequency electromagnetic radiation (ELF) (magnetic flux densities of up to 100,000 microT), a suspected leukemogen, and to concentrated metallic aerosols (up to 200 mg/m3), which can contain the putative respiratory tract carcinogens Cr(VI) and Ni. The two exposures are usually coincident, since welding with an electric current produces welding fumes. The observation of an excess risk for respiratory tract cancer strongly suggests significant exposure both to fumes and to ELF. The absence of increased risk for all leukemia or for acute leukemia among ELF-exposed welders does not support the hypothesis that the observed excess risk for leukemia or acute leukemia among workers in the electrical trades is due to their ELF exposure, which on the average is lower than that of welders.

Air Pollutants, Occupational↗
PubMed1991

ELF: exposure levels, bioeffects, and epidemiology.

Considerable information has been obtained within the last decade describing biological effects, both real and potential, of extremely low frequency (ELF) electric and magnetic fields. Additionally, advances have also been made in defining the interactions between such fields and living systems. Many of the current studies concerning ELF electromagnetic fields are focused on understanding the mechanisms of interaction and in elucidating the issues of human health impact. This paper provides an overview of recent progress in ELF research including work on dosimetry of the fields, laboratory animal studies, cellular research, and epidemiology.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

A model to assess personal exposure to ELF magnetic fields from common household sources.

Emission data are inadequate to characterize the contribution of a source to the total personal extremely-low-frequency (ELF) magnetic field exposure. In this paper, a simple model is proposed that takes into consideration the position of the subject with respect to the source and the duration of exposure. The magnetic field is spatially averaged over the whole body of the exposed subject and integrated over time. Exposure is regarded as significant if it approaches or exceeds 400 microT-h/year. By use of this method, the ELF magnetic fields generated by several household sources were compared with the levels of residential external sources, to assess their relative significance. Some common domestic electrical appliances are found to be responsible for an exposure comparable to that from power lines. When the model is used to assess exposure to electric blankets, apparently conflicting findings may be reconciled.

Bedding and Linens↗
PubMed1992

ELF in vitro exposure systems for inducing uniform electric and magnetic fields in cell culture media.

Many in vitro experiments on the biological effects of extremely low frequency (ELF) electromagnetic fields utilize a uniform external magnetic flux density (B) to expose biological materials. A significant number of researchers do not measure or estimate the resulting electric field strength (E) or current density (J) in the sample medium. The magnitude and spatial distribution of the induced E field are highly dependent on the sample geometry and its relative orientation with respect to the magnetic field. We have studied the E fields induced in several of the most frequently used laboratory culture dishes and flasks under various exposure conditions. Measurements and calculations of the E field distributions in the aqueous sample volume in the containers were performed, and a set of simple, quantitative tables was developed. These tables allow a biological researcher to determine, in a straightforward fashion, the magnitudes and distributions of the electric fields that are induced in the aqueous sample when it is subjected to a uniform, sinusoidal magnetic field of known strength and frequency. In addition, we present a novel exposure technique based on a standard organ culture dish containing two circular, concentric annular rings. Exposure of the organ culture dish to a uniform magnetic field induces different average electric fields in the liquid medium in the inner and outer rings. Results of experiments with this system, which were reported in a separate paper, have shown the dominant role of the magnetically induced E field in producing specific biological effects on cells, in vitro. These results emphasize the need to report data about the induced E field in ELF in-vitro studies, involving magnetic field exposures. Our data tables on E and J in standard containers provide simple means to enable determination of these parameters.

Culture Media↗
PubMed1992

Magnetite in human tissues: a mechanism for the biological effects of weak ELF magnetic fields.

Due to the apparent lack of a biophysical mechanism, the question of whether weak, low-frequency magnetic fields are able to influence living organisms has long been one of the most controversial subjects in any field of science. However, two developments during the past decade have changed this perception dramatically, the first being the discovery that many organisms, including humans, biochemically precipitate the ferrimagnetic mineral magnetite (Fe3O4). In the magnetotactic bacteria, the geomagnetic response is based on either biogenic magnetite or greigite (Fe3S4), and reasonably good evidence exists that this is also the case in higher animals such as the honey bee. Second, the development of simple behavioral conditioning experiments for training honey bees to discriminate magnetic fields demonstrates conclusively that at least one terrestrial animal is capable of detecting earth-strength magnetic fields through a sensory process. In turn, the existence of this ability implies the presence of specialized receptors which interact at the cellular level with weak magnetic fields in a fashion exceeding thermal noise. A simple calculation shows that magnetosomes moving in response to earth-strength ELF fields are capable of opening trans-membrane ion channels, in a fashion similar to those predicted by ionic resonance models. Hence, the presence of trace levels of biogenic magnetite in virtually all human tissues examined suggests that similar biophysical processes may explain a variety of weak field ELF bioeffects.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Bioelectric background fields and their implications for ELF dosimetry.

Electrically active cells, such as those comprising nerve, muscle, or bone, produce ELF currents not only across themselves but also in the surrounding tissue including the tight extracellular spaces between cells. An analysis based on "cable models" of neurons or muscle cells is herein used to estimate those extracellular (or "pericellular") current densities. In order to explore frequency bands the neural or muscle action potentials are represented by a Fourier series of sine wave components. The results of this analysis suggest that endogenous currents in, or near, nerve and muscle are far stronger (higher density) than currents likely induced by exogenous ELF fields--such as 1 microT, 60 Hz magnetic fields. This holds true even for "higher harmonics" including those at or near 60 Hz.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1990

Incidence of leukaemia and brain tumours in Finnish workers exposed to ELF magnetic fields.

The relative incidence of leukaemia, acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and central nervous system (CNS) tumours among workers presumably exposed to extremely low frequency (ELF) magnetic fields (MFs) was studied. The study population consisted of all male industrial workers in Finland aged 25 to 64 years during 1971-1980 according to the Population Census in 1970. The occupations were grouped into three exposure categories according to the probability of exposure. The category of "probable" exposure included electrical occupations and the category of "possible" exposure included occupations where electric motors or welding are common. All other occupations were included to the category of "no exposure". Cancer incidence rates in different occupational groups during 1971-1980 were obtained after linking the census records with the national death certificates and the files of the Finnish Cancer Registry. The adjusted relative risks (with 95% confidence limits) in the categories of "probable" and "possible" exposure were for all leukaemia 1.9 (1.0-3.5) and 1.4 (1.1-1.8), for AML 1.5 (0.5-4.7) and 1.4 (0.9-2.1), and for CNS tumours 1.3 (0.7-2.3) and 1.3 (1.0-1.6), respectively. The results are concordant with earlier studies suggesting elevated risk among workers exposed to ELF magnetic fields.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Induction of ELF transmembrane potentials in relation to power-frequency electric field bioeffects in a plant root model system. II. The effect of 60 Hz electric fields on the growth of different regions of the cucurbit root elongation zone.

The region of elongation in Cucumis sativus and Cucurbita maxima roots was marked at increasing distances from the apex to provide an analog of increasing cell size. These roots were exposed/sham-exposed to 60 Hz electric fields and the growth rates of the root segments measured. The growth rate effect magnitude varied with increasing distance from the root tip at constant field strength, and with increasing applied field strength. These results provide strong, qualitative support for the postulate that ELF transmembrane potential induction is involved in the stimulation of ELF electric field effects in the plant root model system.

Cell Division↗
PubMed1977

Phosphorylation of initiation factor elF-2 and the control of reticulocyte protein synthesis.

When rabbit reticulocyte lysates are incubated in the absence of hemin or in the presence of low concentrations of double-stranded RNA, the rate of initiation of protein synthesis is severely reduced after a lag period in which control rates are observed. This reduced initiation rate is due to inhibition of the binding of Methionyl-tRNAf to native 40S ribosomal subunits and is caused by a macromolecular inhibitor which is activated under these conditions. This paper shows that the inhibitors activated in these two situations appear to be different entities, but that in both cases, the inhibitor has an associated protein kinase activity which is highly selective for the small subunit of elF-2, the initiation factor which catalyzes binding of Methionyl-tRNAf to 40S subunits. We present several lines of evidence in support of the hypothesis that the phosphorylation of elF-2 by these kinases is basis of the control of initiation in lysates incubated under these conditions.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1990

Elf for electronic linear flow control of variable speed ground ULV applications.

The Elf device delivered the appropriate ground ULV rate at variable road speeds ranging from 4 to 21 mph (6 to 32 kph), and shut off automatically at higher and lower speeds. The system is designed to be compatible with vehicles equipped with digital as well as standard speedometers and can be calibrated at any speed within its operating range. Although not used in these studies, Elf has a distance calibration feature designed to enhance the accuracy of the transducer and thus to yield greater flow precision than could be achieved with the transducer alone.

Automobiles↗
PubMed1986

A health examination of railway high-voltage substation workers exposed to ELF electromagnetic fields.

This is a cross-sectional survey on the health conditions of railways workers active in 258 interconnection and conversion substations all over Italy. Measurements performed in both kinds of substations operating at 220 kV have shown that maximum levels of the electric field strength and of the magnetic flux density at 50 Hz are of the order of 5 kV/m and 15 microT, respectively. Three subject groups, differently exposed (1, 10, 20 h/week), and an unexposed control group, for a total number of 627 workers, constitute the population at study. All subjects underwent a general medical examination, laboratory investigations, and a series of selected examinations relative to three systems (nervous, cardiovascular, and haematopoietic) considered at higher risk. No differences have been found between the exposed and the control groups. It is concluded that workers exposed to ELF electromagnetic fields of moderate strength do not show the presence of clear effects on their state of health.

Electromagnetic Fields↗
PubMed1990

Combined DC and ELF magnetic fields can alter cell proliferation.

Effects of extremely-low-frequency (ELF) electromagnetic fields on proliferation of rabbit-ligament fibroblasts were examined. Markedly different effects, ranging from inhibition to stimulation of proliferation, were obtained, depending on the signal parameters of amplitude, frequency, and DC magnetic field. These results demonstrate that simple, single-frequency signals can have dramatic effects on ligament cells, which may be useful for bioelectrical stimulation of growth and repair. Also, the range of frequencies examined in this study covered those commonly used in transmission of electrical energy (50 or 60 Hz), which indicates that further study of possible effects of exposure to fields generated by power transmission equipment is warranted.

Animals↗