Researchers at Dongguk University in South Korea have developed an electromagnetic field-responsive gene switch that can remotely and reversibly control gene expression in mice.

Electromagnetic fields activate gene expression

The gene switch uses an electromagnetic field to activate gene expression without the need for drugs or invasive procedures. The researchers say the approach could eventually support remotely controlled gene therapies, although further testing is required before the technology can be considered for clinical use.

The study, led by Professor Jongpil Kim and Yerim Hwang at Dongguk University’s Institute for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, was published in Cell in May 2026.

The researchers first used single-cell RNA sequencing to identify genes in mouse brain tissue that responded to exposure to an electromagnetic field. Mice were exposed to an electromagnetic field of 2.0 millitesla at 60 hertz, with Lgr4 showing selective upregulation.

The team then used the promoter region of Lgr4 to construct an electromagnetic field-inducible gene switch, known as an Ei gene switch.

The researchers linked the switch to a reporter gene producing green fluorescent protein, allowing gene activation to be visualised in transgenic mice.

Following electromagnetic stimulation, the mice showed increased green fluorescent protein expression throughout the body. More targeted exposure produced localised gene expression in specific organs.

When stimulation stopped, gene expression returned to baseline within 24 hours, suggesting that the system can be switched on and off and adjusted through the electromagnetic stimulus.

Professor Jongpil Kim said: “In previous studies, extremely low frequency EMF fields have been shown to modulate expression of specific genes involved in stress response, epigenetic remodelling, and cellular signalling pathways. Moreover, EMF is non-invasive, fully-reversible, and can precisely penetrate target tissues or areas of the body, making them highly attractive for remote control of gene switches.”

He added: “In this study, we utilized the promoter of the Lgr4 gene to create a robust EMF-inducible gene switch, and demonstrated its applications in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) modelling and reversing aging markers in mice.”

Researchers identify possible electromagnetic sensor

The team also investigated how cells detect the electromagnetic field.

Using a genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 knockout screen, the researchers identified cytochrome b5 type B (Cyb5b), a membrane-associated protein, as a key component involved in the response to electromagnetic stimulation.

Kim said: “This may be the first reported molecular sensor for electromagnetic fields.”

Further experiments indicated that electromagnetic exposure caused Cyb5b to produce rhythmic calcium influx oscillations in cells, which the researchers found were involved in activation of the target gene.

Identifying a potential molecular mechanism for electromagnetic-field sensing could provide a basis for refining the gene switch and investigating how cells respond to electromagnetic stimulation.

The researchers also tested the technology in several mouse models.

They established an Alzheimer’s disease model designed to separate brain ageing from amyloid beta plaque deposition. In aged and progeroid mice, repeated electromagnetic stimulation was used to induce partial cellular reprogramming and improve several ageing-associated markers.

The researchers also used the gene switch to control expression of the Tph2 gene, restoring serotonin levels and reducing depression-like behaviours in mice.

Potential applications in gene therapy

The findings suggest that electromagnetic stimulation could provide a way of controlling therapeutic gene expression without repeatedly administering a drug or using an invasive intervention.

Yerim Hwang said: “This technology could move gene therapy away from a single, irreversible dose and toward simpler, real-time treatments administered by physicians or even wearable devices.”

However, the work remains at the preclinical stage. The experiments described were conducted in cells and mice, and further research will be needed to establish the safety, effectiveness and feasibility of the approach in humans.

The researchers say the ability to control gene expression remotely, reversibly and with spatial precision could make electromagnetic stimulation a potential tool for future gene therapy and regenerative medicine applications.

The study also provides a potential route to investigating how electromagnetic fields interact with biological systems at the molecular level, through the identification of Cyb5b as a candidate sensor.