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Exposure to 2.45 GHz Radiation Triggers Changes in HSP-70, Glucocorticoid Receptors and GFAP Biomarkers in Rat Brain. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22105103. [PMID: 34065959 PMCID: PMC8151023 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22105103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Revised: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Brain tissue may be especially sensitive to electromagnetic phenomena provoking signs of neural stress in cerebral activity. Fifty-four adult female Sprague-Dawley rats underwent ELISA and immunohistochemistry testing of four relevant anatomical areas of the cerebrum to measure biomarkers indicating induction of heat shock protein 70 (HSP-70), glucocorticoid receptors (GCR) or glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) after single or repeated exposure to 2.45 GHz radiation in the experimental set-up. Neither radiation regime caused tissue heating, so thermal effects can be ruled out. A progressive decrease in GCR and HSP-70 was observed after acute or repeated irradiation in the somatosensory cortex, hypothalamus and hippocampus. In the limbic cortex; however, values for both biomarkers were significantly higher after repeated exposure to irradiation when compared to control animals. GFAP values in brain tissue after irradiation were not significantly different or were even lower than those of nonirradiated animals in all brain regions studied. Our results suggest that repeated exposure to 2.45 GHz elicited GCR/HSP-70 dysregulation in the brain, triggering a state of stress that could decrease tissue anti-inflammatory action without favoring glial proliferation and make the nervous system more vulnerable.
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TGF-β Secretion by M2 Macrophages Induces Glial Scar Formation by Activating Astrocytes In Vitro. J Mol Neurosci 2019; 69:324-332. [PMID: 31327154 DOI: 10.1007/s12031-019-01361-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2019] [Accepted: 06/25/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) is a key factor that promotes fibrosis or scar formation, which could become an obstacle in the repair of impaired axons in the central nervous system (CNS) of the human body resulting from diseases or injuries. Considering that major pathological reactions occur during this process, we focused on TGF-secreting M2 macrophages to identify the interactions between M2 macrophages and astrocytes (AS) and verify the specific mechanism of fibrosis or glial scar formation. In the present study, we used the Transwell coculturing technique and found an increase in glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), neurocan, IL-13, and TGF-β expression after incubation for 48 h; the expression of these proteins decreased when additional inhibitors of the TGF-β receptor were added. We concluded that fibrosis or glial scar formation would be enhanced by the secretion of neurocan from AS, resulting from the release of TGF-β from M2 macrophages. We also used M2 macrophage-conditioned medium to further confirm this finding in a subsequent experiment. We hope that the findings in this research could provide a foundation for locating new targets for treating CNS diseases or injuries.
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Barthélémy A, Mouchard A, Bouji M, Blazy K, Puigsegur R, Villégier AS. Glial markers and emotional memory in rats following acute cerebral radiofrequency exposures. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2016; 23:25343-25355. [PMID: 27696165 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-016-7758-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2016] [Accepted: 09/21/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The widespread mobile phone use raises concerns on the possible cerebral effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF EMF). Reactive astrogliosis was reported in neuroanatomical structures of adaptive behaviors after a single RF EMF exposure at high specific absorption rate (SAR, 6 W/kg). Here, we aimed to assess if neuronal injury and functional impairments were related to high SAR-induced astrogliosis. In addition, the level of beta amyloid 1-40 (Aβ 1-40) peptide was explored as a possible toxicity marker. Sprague Dawley male rats were exposed for 15 min at 0, 1.5, or 6 W/kg or for 45 min at 6 W/kg. Memory, emotionality, and locomotion were tested in the fear conditioning, the elevated plus maze, and the open field. Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP, total and cytosolic fractions), myelin basic protein (MBP), and Aβ1-40 were quantified in six brain areas using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. According to our data, total GFAP was increased in the striatum (+114 %) at 1.5 W/kg. Long-term memory was reduced, and cytosolic GFAP was increased in the hippocampus (+119 %) and in the olfactory bulb (+46 %) at 6 W/kg (15 min). No MBP or Aβ1-40 expression modification was shown. Our data corroborates previous studies indicating RF EMF-induced astrogliosis. This study suggests that RF EMF-induced astrogliosis had functional consequences on memory but did not demonstrate that it was secondary to neuronal damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amélie Barthélémy
- Institut national de l'environnement industriel et des risques (INERIS), Unité de Toxicologie Expérimentale, Parc Technologique ALATA, BP no. 2, 60550, Verneuil-en-Halatte, France
- Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives, CNRS UPR 3212, 5 rue Blaise Pascal, 67084, Strasbourg, France
| | - Amandine Mouchard
- Institut national de l'environnement industriel et des risques (INERIS), Unité de Toxicologie Expérimentale, Parc Technologique ALATA, BP no. 2, 60550, Verneuil-en-Halatte, France
- Institut des Maladies Neurodégénératives CNRS UMR5293 Université de Bordeaux, 146 rue Léo Saignat, 33076, Bordeaux, France
| | - Marc Bouji
- Institut national de l'environnement industriel et des risques (INERIS), Unité de Toxicologie Expérimentale, Parc Technologique ALATA, BP no. 2, 60550, Verneuil-en-Halatte, France
- Campus des sciences et technologies, Université Saint-Joseph, Dekwaneh, Mar Roukos, Lebanon
| | - Kelly Blazy
- Institut national de l'environnement industriel et des risques (INERIS), Unité de Toxicologie Expérimentale, Parc Technologique ALATA, BP no. 2, 60550, Verneuil-en-Halatte, France
- Unité mixte PERITOX EA 4285-UM INERIS 01 Laboratoire Périnatalité et risques toxicologiques CHU Amiens-Picardie Hôpital, Sud Avenue Laënnec, 80 480, Salouël, France
| | - Renaud Puigsegur
- Institut national de l'environnement industriel et des risques (INERIS), Unité de Toxicologie Expérimentale, Parc Technologique ALATA, BP no. 2, 60550, Verneuil-en-Halatte, France
- Sous-direction de la police technique et scientifique, 31 Avenue Franklin Roosevelt, 69130, Ecully, France
| | - Anne-Sophie Villégier
- Institut national de l'environnement industriel et des risques (INERIS), Unité de Toxicologie Expérimentale, Parc Technologique ALATA, BP no. 2, 60550, Verneuil-en-Halatte, France.
- Unité mixte PERITOX EA 4285-UM INERIS 01 Laboratoire Périnatalité et risques toxicologiques CHU Amiens-Picardie Hôpital, Sud Avenue Laënnec, 80 480, Salouël, France.
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Lee JS, Kim JY, Kim HJ, Kim JC, Lee JS, Kim N, Park MJ. Effects of combined radiofrequency field exposure on amyloid-beta-induced cytotoxicity in HT22 mouse hippocampal neurones. JOURNAL OF RADIATION RESEARCH 2016; 57:620-626. [PMID: 27325640 PMCID: PMC5137286 DOI: 10.1093/jrr/rrw040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2015] [Revised: 02/02/2016] [Accepted: 03/04/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common progressive and irreversible neurodegenerative disease and it is caused by neuronal death in the brain. Recent studies have shown that non-ionizing radiofrequency (RF) radiation has some beneficial cognitive effects in animal models of AD. In this study, we examined the effect of combined RF radiation on amyloid-beta (Aβ)-induced cytotoxicity in HT22 rat hippocampal neurons. Treatment with Aβ suppressed HT22 cell proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner. RF exposure did not affect cell proliferation, and also had a marginal effect on Aβ-induced suppression of growth in HT22 cells. Cell cycle analysis showed that Aβ decreased the G1 fraction and increased the subG1 fraction, indicating increased apoptosis. Accordingly, Aβ increased the annexin V/propidium iodide (PI)-positive cell fraction and the degradation of poly (ADP ribose) polymerase and caspase-3 in HT22 cells. However, RF alone and the combination of Aβ and RF did not affect these events significantly. Aβ increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, thereby suppressing cell proliferation. This was abrogated by N-acetylcysteine (NAC) treatment, indicating that Aβ-induced ROS generation is the main cause of suppression of proliferation. NAC also restored Aβ-induced annexin V/PI-positive cell populations. However, RF did not have a significant impact on these events. Finally, Aβ stimulated the ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related protein/checkpoint kinase 1 DNA single-strand breakage pathway, and enhanced beta-site amyloid precursor protein expression; RF had no effect on them. Taken together, our results demonstrate that RF exposure did not significantly affect the Aβ-induced decrease of cell proliferation, increase of ROS production, or induction of cell death in these cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jong-Sun Lee
- Division of Radiation Cancer Research, Research Center for Radio-Senescence, Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences, Nowongil 75, Nowon-Gu, Seoul 139-706, Korea
| | - Jeong-Yub Kim
- Division of Radiation Cancer Research, Research Center for Radio-Senescence, Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences, Nowongil 75, Nowon-Gu, Seoul 139-706, Korea
- Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul 136-705, Korea
| | - Hee-Jin Kim
- Division of Radiation Cancer Research, Research Center for Radio-Senescence, Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences, Nowongil 75, Nowon-Gu, Seoul 139-706, Korea
| | - Jeong Cheol Kim
- Division of Radiation Cancer Research, Research Center for Radio-Senescence, Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences, Nowongil 75, Nowon-Gu, Seoul 139-706, Korea
| | - Jae-Seon Lee
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Inha University, Incheon 400-712, Korea
| | - Nam Kim
- School of Information and Communication Engineering, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 362-763, Korea
| | - Myung-Jin Park
- Division of Radiation Cancer Research, Research Center for Radio-Senescence, Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences, Nowongil 75, Nowon-Gu, Seoul 139-706, Korea
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Kim JY, Kim HJ, Kim N, Kwon JH, Park MJ. Effects of radiofrequency field exposure on glutamate-induced oxidative stress in mouse hippocampal HT22 cells. Int J Radiat Biol 2016; 93:249-256. [PMID: 27648632 DOI: 10.1080/09553002.2017.1237058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To define the impact of radiofrequency (RF) under in vitro experimental Alzheimer's disease conditions, we investigated the effect of RF radiation on glutamate-induced oxidative stress in mouse hippocampal neuronal HT22 cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS Cell survival rate was measured by MTT and trypan blue exclusion assays. Cell cycle distribution, cell death, and ROS production were analyzed using flow cytometry. Expression of proteins was analyzed by Western blot. RESULTS RF exposure alone had a marginal impact on cell proliferation; however, it significantly enhanced glutamate-induced cytotoxicity in HT22 cells. Glutamate augmented the subG1 fraction of cell cycle, annexin/propidium iodide positive cell population, and expression of cleaved poly (ADP ribose) polymerase, which were further increased by RF exposure. Glutamate induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and RF exposure further upregulated it. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) treatment completely abrogated glutamate- and RF-induced ROS production followed by cell death and restored cell proliferation in HT22 cells. Finally, glutamate phosphorylated c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and RF increased this event further. Treatment with NAC and inhibitor of JNK decreased JNK phosphorylation and restored cell proliferation, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Our results demonstrate that RF exposure enhanced glutamate-induced cytotoxicity by further increase of ROS production in HT22 cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeong-Yub Kim
- a Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences , Seoul , Korea.,b Department of Pathology , College of Medicine, Korea University , Seoul , Korea
| | - Hee-Jin Kim
- a Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences , Seoul , Korea
| | - Nam Kim
- c School of Information and Communication Engineering , Chungbuk National University , Cheongju , Korea
| | - Jong Hwa Kwon
- d Department of Radio Technology Research , Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute , Daejeon , Korea
| | - Myung-Jin Park
- a Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences , Seoul , Korea
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Neurobiological effects of repeated radiofrequency exposures in male senescent rats. Biogerontology 2016; 17:841-857. [DOI: 10.1007/s10522-016-9654-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2016] [Accepted: 05/23/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Lu Y, He M, Zhang Y, Xu S, Zhang L, He Y, Chen C, Liu C, Pi H, Yu Z, Zhou Z. Differential pro-inflammatory responses of astrocytes and microglia involve STAT3 activation in response to 1800 MHz radiofrequency fields. PLoS One 2014; 9:e108318. [PMID: 25275372 PMCID: PMC4183530 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0108318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2014] [Accepted: 08/19/2014] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Microglia and astrocytes play important role in maintaining the homeostasis of central nervous system (CNS). Several CNS impacts have been postulated to be associated with radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic fields exposure. Given the important role of inflammation in neural physiopathologic processes, we investigated the pro-inflammatory responses of microglia and astrocytes and the involved mechanism in response to RF fields. Microglial N9 and astroglial C8-D1A cells were exposed to 1800 MHz RF for different time with or without pretreatment with STAT3 inhibitor. Microglia and astrocytes were activated by RF exposure indicated by up-regulated CD11b and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). However, RF exposure induced differential pro-inflammatory responses in astrocytes and microglia, characterized by different expression and release profiles of IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, PGE2, nitric oxide (NO), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2). Moreover, the RF exposure activated STAT3 in microglia but not in astrocytes. Furthermore, the STAT3 inhibitor Stattic ameliorated the RF-induced release of pro-inflammatory cytokines in microglia but not in astrocytes. Our results demonstrated that RF exposure differentially induced pro-inflammatory responses in microglia and astrocytes, which involved differential activation of STAT3 in microglia and astrocytes. Our data provide novel insights into the potential mechanisms of the reported CNS impacts associated with mobile phone use and present STAT3 as a promising target to protect humans against increasing RF exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yonghui Lu
- Department of Occupational Health, Key Lab of Medical Protection for Electromagnetic Radiation, Ministry of Education of China, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Mindi He
- Department of Occupational Health, Key Lab of Medical Protection for Electromagnetic Radiation, Ministry of Education of China, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yang Zhang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Shangcheng Xu
- Department of Occupational Health, Key Lab of Medical Protection for Electromagnetic Radiation, Ministry of Education of China, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Department of Occupational Health, Key Lab of Medical Protection for Electromagnetic Radiation, Ministry of Education of China, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yue He
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Chunhai Chen
- Department of Occupational Health, Key Lab of Medical Protection for Electromagnetic Radiation, Ministry of Education of China, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Chuan Liu
- Department of Occupational Health, Key Lab of Medical Protection for Electromagnetic Radiation, Ministry of Education of China, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Huifeng Pi
- Department of Occupational Health, Key Lab of Medical Protection for Electromagnetic Radiation, Ministry of Education of China, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Zhengping Yu
- Department of Occupational Health, Key Lab of Medical Protection for Electromagnetic Radiation, Ministry of Education of China, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Zhou Zhou
- Department of Occupational Health, Key Lab of Medical Protection for Electromagnetic Radiation, Ministry of Education of China, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
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Maskey D, Kim HG, Suh MW, Roh GS, Kim MJ. Alteration of glycine receptor immunoreactivity in the auditory brainstem of mice following three months of exposure to radiofrequency radiation at SAR 4.0 W/kg. Int J Mol Med 2014; 34:409-19. [PMID: 24866721 PMCID: PMC4094587 DOI: 10.3892/ijmm.2014.1784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2013] [Accepted: 04/11/2014] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The increasing use of mobile communication has triggered an interest in its possible effects on the regulation of neurotransmitter signals. Due to the close proximity of mobile phones to hearing-related brain regions during usage, its use may lead to a decrease in the ability to segregate sounds, leading to serious auditory dysfunction caused by the prolonged exposure to radiofrequency (RF) radiation. The interplay among auditory processing, excitation and inhibitory molecule interactions plays a major role in auditory function. In particular, inhibitory molecules, such a glycine, are predominantly localized in the auditory brainstem. However, the effects of exposure to RF radiation on auditory function have not been reported to date. Thus, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of exposure to RF radiation on glycine receptor (GlyR) immunoreactivity (IR) in the auditory brainstem region at 835 MHz with a specific absorption rate of 4.0 W/kg for three months using free-floating immunohistochemistry. Compared with the sham control (SC) group, a significant loss of staining intensity of neuropils and cells in the different subdivisions of the auditory brainstem regions was observed in the mice exposed to RF radiation (E4 group). A decrease in the number of GlyR immunoreactive cells was also noted in the cochlear nuclear complex [anteroventral cochlear nucleus (AVCN), 31.09%; dorsal cochlear nucleus (DCN), 14.08%; posteroventral cochlear nucleus (PVCN), 32.79%] and the superior olivary complex (SOC) [lateral superior olivary nucleus (LSO), 36.85%; superior paraolivary nucleus (SPN), 24.33%, medial superior olivary nucleus (MSO), 23.23%; medial nucleus of the trapezoid body (MNTB), 10.15%] of the mice in the E4 group. Auditory brainstem response (ABR) analysis also revealed a significant threshold elevation of in the exposed (E4) group, which may be associated with auditory dysfunction. The present study suggests that the auditory brainstem region is susceptible to chronic exposure to RF radiation, which may affect the function of the central auditory system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dhiraj Maskey
- Department of Anatomy, Dankook University College of Medicine, Cheonan-si, Chungnam, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyung Gun Kim
- Department of Pharmacology, Dankook University College of Medicine, Cheonan-si, Chungnam, Republic of Korea
| | - Myung-Whan Suh
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Seoul National University Hospital, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Gu Seob Roh
- Department of Anatomy, Institute of Health Sciences, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Gyeongsang, Republic of Korea
| | - Myeung Ju Kim
- Department of Anatomy, Dankook University College of Medicine, Cheonan-si, Chungnam, Republic of Korea
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Gherardini L, Ciuti G, Tognarelli S, Cinti C. Searching for the perfect wave: the effect of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields on cells. Int J Mol Sci 2014; 15:5366-87. [PMID: 24681584 PMCID: PMC4013569 DOI: 10.3390/ijms15045366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2013] [Revised: 01/17/2014] [Accepted: 03/20/2014] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
There is a growing concern in the population about the effects that environmental exposure to any source of “uncontrolled” radiation may have on public health. Anxiety arises from the controversial knowledge about the effect of electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure to cells and organisms but most of all concerning the possible causal relation to human diseases. Here we reviewed those in vitro and in vivo and epidemiological works that gave a new insight about the effect of radio frequency (RF) exposure, relating to intracellular molecular pathways that lead to biological and functional outcomes. It appears that a thorough application of standardized protocols is the key to reliable data acquisition and interpretation that could contribute a clearer picture for scientists and lay public. Moreover, specific tuning of experimental and clinical RF exposure might lead to beneficial health effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Gherardini
- Institute of Clinical Physiology, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche Siena, Strada Petriccio e Belriguardo, Siena 53100, Italy.
| | - Gastone Ciuti
- The BioRobotics Institute, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34, Pisa 56025, Italy.
| | - Selene Tognarelli
- The BioRobotics Institute, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34, Pisa 56025, Italy.
| | - Caterina Cinti
- Institute of Clinical Physiology, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche Siena, Strada Petriccio e Belriguardo, Siena 53100, Italy.
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Herbert MR, Sage C. Autism and EMF? Plausibility of a pathophysiological link - Part I. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013; 20:191-209. [PMID: 24095003 DOI: 10.1016/j.pathophys.2013.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2013] [Revised: 05/06/2013] [Accepted: 07/15/2013] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Although autism spectrum conditions (ASCs) are defined behaviorally, they also involve multileveled disturbances of underlying biology that find striking parallels in the physiological impacts of electromagnetic frequency and radiofrequency exposures (EMF/RFR). Part I of this paper will review the critical contributions pathophysiology may make to the etiology, pathogenesis and ongoing generation of core features of ASCs. We will review pathophysiological damage to core cellular processes that are associated both with ASCs and with biological effects of EMF/RFR exposures that contribute to chronically disrupted homeostasis. Many studies of people with ASCs have identified oxidative stress and evidence of free radical damage, cellular stress proteins, and deficiencies of antioxidants such as glutathione. Elevated intracellular calcium in ASCs may be due to genetics or may be downstream of inflammation or environmental exposures. Cell membrane lipids may be peroxidized, mitochondria may be dysfunctional, and various kinds of immune system disturbances are common. Brain oxidative stress and inflammation as well as measures consistent with blood-brain barrier and brain perfusion compromise have been documented. Part II of this paper will review how behaviors in ASCs may emerge from alterations of electrophysiological oscillatory synchronization, how EMF/RFR could contribute to these by de-tuning the organism, and policy implications of these vulnerabilities. Changes in brain and autonomic nervous system electrophysiological function and sensory processing predominate, seizures are common, and sleep disruption is close to universal. All of these phenomena also occur with EMF/RFR exposure that can add to system overload ('allostatic load') in ASCs by increasing risk, and worsening challenging biological problems and symptoms; conversely, reducing exposure might ameliorate symptoms of ASCs by reducing obstruction of physiological repair. Various vital but vulnerable mechanisms such as calcium channels may be disrupted by environmental agents, various genes associated with autism or the interaction of both. With dramatic increases in reported ASCs that are coincident in time with the deployment of wireless technologies, we need aggressive investigation of potential ASC - EMF/RFR links. The evidence is sufficient to warrant new public exposure standards benchmarked to low-intensity (non-thermal) exposure levels now known to be biologically disruptive, and strong, interim precautionary practices are advocated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martha R Herbert
- TRANSCEND Research Program Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02129, USA.
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Kim HS, An YS, Paik MJ, Lee YS, Choi HD, Kim BC, Pack JK, Kim N, Ahn YH. The effects of exposure to 915 MHz radiofrequency identification on cerebral glucose metabolism in rat: a [F-18] FDG micro-PET study. Int J Radiat Biol 2013; 89:750-5. [PMID: 23581879 DOI: 10.3109/09553002.2013.791756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE We investigated the effect of whole-body exposure to 915-MHz radiofrequency identification (RFID) on rat cortical glucose metabolism by using (18)F-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET). MATERIALS AND METHODS Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups: Cage-control, sham-exposed and RFID-exposed groups. Rats were exposed to the 915-MHz RFID for 8 h daily, 5 days per week, for 2 or 16 weeks. The whole-body average specific absorption rate (SAR) was 4 W/kg for the field of the 915 MHz RFID signal. FDG-PET images were obtained the day after RFID exposure, using micro-PET with a FDG tracer. With a Xeleris functional imaging workstation, absolute values in regions of interest (ROI) in the frontal, temporal and parietal cortexes and cerebellum were measured. Cortical ROI values were normalized to the cerebellar value and compared. RESULTS The data showed that the relative cerebral glucose metabolic rate was unchanged in the frontal, temporal and parietal cortexes of the 915 MHz RFID-exposed rats, compared with rats in cage-control and sham-exposed groups. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that 915 MHz RFID radiation exposure did not cause a significant long lasting effect on glucose metabolism in the rat brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hye Sun Kim
- Department of Neurosurgery, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, South Korea
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