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Regalbuto E, Anselmo A, De Sanctis S, Franchini V, Lista F, Benvenuto M, Bei R, Masuelli L, D’Inzeo G, Paffi A, Trodella E, Sgura A. Human Fibroblasts In Vitro Exposed to 2.45 GHz Continuous and Pulsed Wave Signals: Evaluation of Biological Effects with a Multimethodological Approach. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E7069. [PMID: 32992895 PMCID: PMC7584027 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21197069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Revised: 09/18/2020] [Accepted: 09/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The increasing exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF), especially from wireless communication devices, raises questions about their possible adverse health effects. So far, several in vitro studies evaluating RF-EMF genotoxic and cytotoxic non-thermal effects have reported contradictory results that could be mainly due to inadequate experimental design and lack of well-characterized exposure systems and conditions. Moreover, a topic poorly investigated is related to signal modulation induced by electromagnetic fields. The aim of this study was to perform an analysis of the potential non-thermal biological effects induced by 2.45 GHz exposures through a characterized exposure system and a multimethodological approach. Human fibroblasts were exposed to continuous (CW) and pulsed (PW) signals for 2 h in a wire patch cell-based exposure system at the specific absorption rate (SAR) of 0.7 W/kg. The evaluation of the potential biological effects was carried out through a multimethodological approach, including classical biological markers (genotoxic, cell cycle, and ultrastructural) and the evaluation of gene expression profile through the powerful high-throughput next generation sequencing (NGS) RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) approach. Our results suggest that 2.45 GHz radiofrequency fields did not induce significant biological effects at a cellular or molecular level for the evaluated exposure parameters and conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Regalbuto
- Scientific Department, Army Medical Center of Rome, 00184 Rome, Italy; (A.A.); (S.D.S.); (V.F.); (F.L.)
- Department of Science, University of Rome “Roma Tre”, 00146 Rome, Italy
| | - Anna Anselmo
- Scientific Department, Army Medical Center of Rome, 00184 Rome, Italy; (A.A.); (S.D.S.); (V.F.); (F.L.)
| | - Stefania De Sanctis
- Scientific Department, Army Medical Center of Rome, 00184 Rome, Italy; (A.A.); (S.D.S.); (V.F.); (F.L.)
| | - Valeria Franchini
- Scientific Department, Army Medical Center of Rome, 00184 Rome, Italy; (A.A.); (S.D.S.); (V.F.); (F.L.)
| | - Florigio Lista
- Scientific Department, Army Medical Center of Rome, 00184 Rome, Italy; (A.A.); (S.D.S.); (V.F.); (F.L.)
| | - Monica Benvenuto
- Saint Camillus International University of Health and Medical Sciences, 00131 Rome, Italy;
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy;
| | - Roberto Bei
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy;
| | - Laura Masuelli
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome “Sapienza”, 00161 Rome, Italy;
| | - Guglielmo D’Inzeo
- Department of Information Engineering, Electronics and Telecommunications (DIET), University of Rome “La Sapienza”, 00184 Rome, Italy; (G.D.); (A.P.); (E.T.)
| | - Alessandra Paffi
- Department of Information Engineering, Electronics and Telecommunications (DIET), University of Rome “La Sapienza”, 00184 Rome, Italy; (G.D.); (A.P.); (E.T.)
| | - Eugenio Trodella
- Department of Information Engineering, Electronics and Telecommunications (DIET), University of Rome “La Sapienza”, 00184 Rome, Italy; (G.D.); (A.P.); (E.T.)
| | - Antonella Sgura
- Department of Science, University of Rome “Roma Tre”, 00146 Rome, Italy
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Halgamuge MN, Skafidas E, Davis D. A meta-analysis of in vitro exposures to weak radiofrequency radiation exposure from mobile phones (1990-2015). ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2020; 184:109227. [PMID: 32199316 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.109227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2020] [Revised: 01/29/2020] [Accepted: 02/03/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
To function, mobile phone systems require transmitters that emit and receive radiofrequency signals over an extended geographical area exposing humans in all stages of development ranging from in-utero, early childhood, adolescents and adults. This study evaluates the question of the impact of radiofrequency radiation on living organisms in vitro studies. In this study, we abstract data from 300 peer-reviewed scientific publications (1990-2015) describing 1127 experimental observations in cell-based in vitro models. Our first analysis of these data found that out of 746 human cell experiments, 45.3% indicated cell changes, whereas 54.7% indicated no changes (p = 0.001). Realizing that there are profound distinctions between cell types in terms of age, rate of proliferation and apoptosis, and other characteristics and that RF signals can be characterized in terms of polarity, information content, frequency, Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) and power, we further refined our analysis to determine if there were some distinct properties of negative and positive findings associated with these specific characteristics. We further analyzed the data taking into account the cumulative effect (SAR × exposure time) to acquire the cumulative energy absorption of experiments due to radiofrequency exposure, which we believe, has not been fully considered previously. When the frequency of signals, length and type of exposure, and maturity, rate of growth (doubling time), apoptosis and other properties of individual cell types are considered, our results identify a number of potential non-thermal effects of radiofrequency fields that are restricted to a subset of specific faster-growing less differentiated cell types such as human spermatozoa (based on 19 reported experiments, p-value = 0.002) and human epithelial cells (based on 89 reported experiments, p-value < 0.0001). In contrast, for mature, differentiated adult cells of Glia (p = 0.001) and Glioblastoma (p < 0.0001) and adult human blood lymphocytes (p < 0.0001) there are no statistically significant differences for these more slowly reproducing cell lines. Thus, we show that RF induces significant changes in human cells (45.3%), and in faster-growing rat/mouse cell dataset (47.3%). In parallel with this finding, further analysis of faster-growing cells from other species (chicken, rabbit, pig, frog, snail) indicates that most undergo significant changes (74.4%) when exposed to RF. This study confirms observations from the REFLEX project, Belyaev and others that cellular response varies with signal properties. We concur that differentiation of cell type thus constitutes a critical piece of information and should be useful as a reference for many researchers planning additional studies. Sponsorship bias is also a factor that we did not take into account in this analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malka N Halgamuge
- Department Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia.
| | - Efstratios Skafidas
- Department Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Devra Davis
- Environmental Health Trust, Teton Village, WY, 83025, USA
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Parham F, Portier CJ, Chang X, Mevissen M. The Use of Signal-Transduction and Metabolic Pathways to Predict Human Disease Targets from Electric and Magnetic Fields Using in vitro Data in Human Cell Lines. Front Public Health 2016; 4:193. [PMID: 27656641 PMCID: PMC5013261 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2016.00193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2016] [Accepted: 08/25/2016] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Using in vitro data in human cell lines, several research groups have investigated changes in gene expression in cellular systems following exposure to extremely low frequency (ELF) and radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic fields (EMF). For ELF EMF, we obtained five studies with complete microarray data and three studies with only lists of significantly altered genes. Likewise, for RF EMF, we obtained 13 complete microarray datasets and 5 limited datasets. Plausible linkages between exposure to ELF and RF EMF and human diseases were identified using a three-step process: (a) linking genes associated with classes of human diseases to molecular pathways, (b) linking pathways to ELF and RF EMF microarray data, and (c) identifying associations between human disease and EMF exposures where the pathways are significantly similar. A total of 60 pathways were associated with human diseases, mostly focused on basic cellular functions like JAK–STAT signaling or metabolic functions like xenobiotic metabolism by cytochrome P450 enzymes. ELF EMF datasets were sporadically linked to human diseases, but no clear pattern emerged. Individual datasets showed some linkage to cancer, chemical dependency, metabolic disorders, and neurological disorders. RF EMF datasets were not strongly linked to any disorders but strongly linked to changes in several pathways. Based on these analyses, the most promising area for further research would be to focus on EMF and neurological function and disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fred Parham
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park , Durham, NC , USA
| | | | - Xiaoqing Chang
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park , Durham, NC , USA
| | - Meike Mevissen
- Division of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, Vetsuisse Faculty , University of Bern, Bern , Switzerland
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Kayhan H, Esmekaya MA, Saglam ASY, Tuysuz MZ, Canseven AG, Yagci AM, Seyhan N. Does MW Radiation Affect Gene Expression, Apoptotic Level, and Cell Cycle Progression of Human SH-SY5Y Neuroblastoma Cells? Cell Biochem Biophys 2016; 74:99-107. [PMID: 27260669 DOI: 10.1007/s12013-016-0734-9] [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] [Received: 01/12/2016] [Accepted: 05/18/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Neuroblastoma (NB) is a cancer that occurs in sympathetic nervous system arising from neuroblasts and nerve tissue of the adrenal gland, neck, chest, or spinal cord. It is an embryonal malignancy and affects infants and children. In this study, we investigated the effects of microwave (MW) radiation on apoptotic activity, cell viability, and cell cycle progression in human SH-SY5Y NB cells which can give information about MW radiation effects on neural cells covering the period from the embryonic stages to infants. SH-SY5Y NB cells were exposed to 2.1 GHz W-CDMA modulated MW radiation for 24 h at a specific absorption rate of 0.491 W/kg. Control samples were in the same conditions with MW-exposed samples but they were not exposed to MW radiation. The apoptotic activity of cells was measured by Annexin-V-FITC and propidium iodide staining. Moreover, mRNA levels of proliferative and cell cycle proteins were determined by real-time RT-PCR. The change in cell cycle progression was observed by using CycleTest-Plus DNA reagent. No significant change was observed in apoptotic activity of MW-exposed cells compared to control cells. The mRNA levels of c-myc and cyclin D1 were significantly reduced in MW group (p < 0.05). The percentage of MW-exposed cells in G1 phase was significantly higher than the percentage of control cells in G1 phase. MW radiation caused cell cycle arrest in G1 phase. These results showed that 2.1 GHz W-CDMA modulated MW radiation did not cause apoptotic cell death but changed cell cycle progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Handan Kayhan
- Department of Adult Hematology, Faculty of Medicine, Gazi University, Besevler, Ankara, Turkey.
| | - Meric Arda Esmekaya
- Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine, Gazi University, Besevler, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Atiye Seda Yar Saglam
- Department of Medical Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Gazi University, Besevler, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Mehmed Zahid Tuysuz
- Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine, Gazi University, Besevler, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Ayşe Gulnihal Canseven
- Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine, Gazi University, Besevler, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Abdullah Munci Yagci
- Department of Adult Hematology, Faculty of Medicine, Gazi University, Besevler, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Nesrin Seyhan
- Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine, Gazi University, Besevler, Ankara, Turkey
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Manna D, Ghosh R. Effect of radiofrequency radiation in cultured mammalian cells: A review. Electromagn Biol Med 2016; 35:265-301. [PMID: 27053138 DOI: 10.3109/15368378.2015.1092158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
The use of mobile phone related technologies will continue to increase in the foreseeable future worldwide. This has drawn attention to the probable interaction of radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation with different biological targets. Studies have been conducted on various organisms to evaluate the alleged ill-effect on health. We have therefore attempted to review those work limited to in vitro cultured cells where irradiation conditions were well controlled. Different investigators have studied varied endpoints like DNA damage, cell cycle arrest, reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation, cellular morphology and viability to weigh the genotoxic effect of such radiation by utilizing different frequencies and dose rates under various irradiation conditions that include continuous or pulsed exposures and also amplitude- or frequency-modulated waves. Cells adapt to change in their intra and extracellular environment from different chemical and physical stimuli through organized alterations in gene or protein expression that result in the induction of stress responses. Many studies have focused on such effects for risk estimations. Though the effects of microwave radiation on cells are often not pronounced, some investigators have therefore combined radiofrequency radiation with other physical or chemical agents to observe whether the effects of such agents were augmented or not. Such reports in cultured cellular systems have also included in this review. The findings from different workers have revealed that, effects were dependent on cell type and the endpoint selection. However, contradictory findings were also observed in same cell types with same assay, in such cases the specific absorption rate (SAR) values were significant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debashri Manna
- a Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics , University of Kalyani , Kalyani , India
| | - Rita Ghosh
- a Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics , University of Kalyani , Kalyani , India
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Kesari KK, Meena R, Nirala J, Kumar J, Verma HN. Effect of 3G Cell Phone Exposure with Computer Controlled 2-D Stepper Motor on Non-thermal Activation of the hsp27/p38MAPK Stress Pathway in Rat Brain. Cell Biochem Biophys 2013; 68:347-58. [DOI: 10.1007/s12013-013-9715-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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7
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Marino C, Lagroye I, Scarfì MR, Sienkiewicz Z. Are the young more sensitive than adults to the effects of radiofrequency fields? An examination of relevant data from cellular and animal studies. PROGRESS IN BIOPHYSICS AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2011; 107:374-85. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2011.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2011] [Accepted: 09/01/2011] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
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Grigoriev YG, Mikhailov VF, Ivanov AA, Maltsev VN, Ulanova AM, Stavrakova NM, Nikolaeva IA, Grigoriev OA. Autoimmune processes after long-term low-level exposure to electromagnetic fields part 4. Oxidative intracellular stress response to the long-term rat exposure to nonthermal RF EMF. Biophysics (Nagoya-shi) 2011. [DOI: 10.1134/s0006350910060308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
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9
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McNamee JP, Chauhan V. Radiofrequency Radiation and Gene/Protein Expression: A Review. Radiat Res 2009; 172:265-87. [DOI: 10.1667/rr1726.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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Habash RWY, Elwood JM, Krewski D, Lotz WG, McNamee JP, Prato FS. Recent advances in research on radiofrequency fields and health: 2004-2007. JOURNAL OF TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. PART B, CRITICAL REVIEWS 2009; 12:250-288. [PMID: 20183523 DOI: 10.1080/10937400903094125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
The widespread use of wireless telecommunications devices, particularly mobile phones and wireless networks, has resulted in increased human exposure to radiofrequency (RF) fields. Although national and international agencies have established safety guidelines for exposure to RF fields, concerns remain about the potential for adverse health outcomes to occur in relation to RF field exposure. The extensive literature on RF fields and health was reviewed by a number of authorities, including the Royal Society of Canada (1999). This report is the third in a series of updates to the original report of the Royal Society of Canada, covering the period 2004-2007. In particular, the present study examined new data on (1) dosimetry and exposure assessment, (2) biological effects of RF fields such as enzyme induction, and (3) toxicological effects, including genotoxicity and carcinogenicity. Epidemiological studies of the potential health effects of RF exposure, particularly from mobile phones, were determined, along with human and animal studies of neurological and behavioural effects. Within the last 4 yrs investigators concluded that there is no clear evidence of adverse health effects associated with RF fields, although continued research is recommended to address specific areas of concern, including exposure to RF fields among children using mobile phones. The results of the ongoing 13-country World Health Organization INTERPHONE study of mobile phones may provide important new information on the potential cancer risks associated with mobile phone use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riadh W Y Habash
- R. Samuel McLaughlin Center for Population Health Risk Assessment, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
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Miyakoshi J. Cellular Biology Aspects of Mobile Phone Radiation. ADVANCES IN ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS IN LIVING SYSTEMS 2009. [DOI: 10.1007/978-0-387-92736-7_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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12
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Valbonesi P, Franzellitti S, Piano A, Contin A, Biondi C, Fabbri E. Evaluation of HSP70 Expression and DNA Damage in Cells of a Human Trophoblast Cell Line Exposed to 1.8 GHz Amplitude-Modulated Radiofrequency Fields. Radiat Res 2008; 169:270-9. [DOI: 10.1667/rr1061.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2007] [Accepted: 10/05/2007] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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13
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Dawe AS, Nylund R, Leszczynski D, Kuster N, Reader T, De Pomerai DI. Continuous wave and simulated GSM exposure at 1.8 W/kg and 1.8 GHz do not inducehsp16-1 heat-shock gene expression inCaenorhabditis elegans. Bioelectromagnetics 2008; 29:92-9. [PMID: 17902155 DOI: 10.1002/bem.20366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Recent data suggest that there might be a subtle thermal explanation for the apparent induction by radiofrequency (RF) radiation of transgene expression from a small heat-shock protein (hsp16-1) promoter in the nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans. The RF fields used in the C. elegans study were much weaker (SAR 5-40 mW kg(-1)) than those routinely tested in many other published studies (SAR approximately 2 W kg(-1)). To resolve this disparity, we have exposed the same transgenic hsp16-1::lacZ strain of C. elegans (PC72) to higher intensity RF fields (1.8 GHz; SAR approximately 1.8 W kg(-1)). For both continuous wave (CW) and Talk-pulsed RF exposures (2.5 h at 25 degrees C), there was no indication that RF exposure could induce reporter expression above sham control levels. Thus, at much higher induced RF field strength (close to the maximum permitted exposure from a mobile telephone handset), this particular nematode heat-shock gene is not up-regulated. However, under conditions where background reporter expression was moderately elevated in the sham controls (perhaps as a result of some unknown co-stressor), we found some evidence that reporter expression may be reduced by approximately 15% following exposure to either Talk-pulsed or CW RF fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam S Dawe
- Institute of Genetics, School of Biology, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, United Kingdom
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Chauhan V, Qutob SS, Lui S, Mariampillai A, Bellier PV, Yauk CL, Douglas GR, Williams A, McNamee JP. Analysis of gene expression in two human-derived cell lines exposedin vitro to a 1.9 GHz pulse-modulated radiofrequency field. Proteomics 2007; 7:3896-905. [PMID: 17902192 DOI: 10.1002/pmic.200700215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
There is considerable controversy surrounding the biological effects of radiofrequency (RF) fields, as emitted by mobile phones. Previous work from our laboratory has shown no effect related to the exposure of 1.9 GHz pulse-modulated RF fields on the expression of 22,000 genes in a human glioblastoma-derived cell-line (U87MG) at 6 h following a 4 h RF field exposure period. As a follow-up to this study, we have now examined the effect of RF field exposure on the possible expression of late onset genes in U87MG cells after a 24 h RF exposure period. In addition, a human monocyte-derived cell-line (Mono-Mac-6, MM6) was exposed to intermittent (5 min ON, 10 min OFF) RF fields for 6 h and then gene expression was assessed immediately after exposure and at 18 h postexposure. Both cell lines were exposed to 1.9 GHz pulse-modulated RF fields for 6 or 24 h at specific absorption rates (SARs) of 0.1-10.0 W/kg. In support of our previous results, we found no evidence that nonthermal RF field exposure could alter gene expression in either cultured U87MG or MM6 cells, relative to nonirradiated control groups. However, exposure of both cell-lines to heat-shock conditions (43 degrees C for 1 h) caused an alteration in the expression of a number of well-characterized heat-shock proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinita Chauhan
- Consumer and Clinical Radiation Protection Bureau, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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15
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Friedman J, Kraus S, Hauptman Y, Schiff Y, Seger R. Mechanism of short-term ERK activation by electromagnetic fields at mobile phone frequencies. Biochem J 2007; 405:559-68. [PMID: 17456048 PMCID: PMC2267306 DOI: 10.1042/bj20061653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 178] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2006] [Revised: 04/23/2007] [Accepted: 04/25/2007] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The exposure to non-thermal microwave electromagnetic fields generated by mobile phones affects the expression of many proteins. This effect on transcription and protein stability can be mediated by the MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) cascades, which serve as central signalling pathways and govern essentially all stimulated cellular processes. Indeed, long-term exposure of cells to mobile phone irradiation results in the activation of p38 as well as the ERK (extracellular-signal-regulated kinase) MAPKs. In the present study, we have studied the immediate effect of irradiation on the MAPK cascades, and found that ERKs, but not stress-related MAPKs, are rapidly activated in response to various frequencies and intensities. Using signalling inhibitors, we delineated the mechanism that is involved in this activation. We found that the first step is mediated in the plasma membrane by NADH oxidase, which rapidly generates ROS (reactive oxygen species). These ROS then directly stimulate MMPs (matrix metalloproteinases) and allow them to cleave and release Hb-EGF [heparin-binding EGF (epidermal growth factor)]. This secreted factor activates the EGF receptor, which in turn further activates the ERK cascade. Thus this study demonstrates for the first time a detailed molecular mechanism by which electromagnetic irradiation from mobile phones induces the activation of the ERK cascade and thereby induces transcription and other cellular processes.
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Key Words
- extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (erk)
- heparin-binding epidermal growth factor (hb-egf)
- matrix metalloproteinase (mmp)
- mobile phone irradiation
- nadh oxidase
- reactive oxygen species (ros)
- dpi, diphenyleneiodonium
- egf, epidermal growth factor
- egfr, egf receptor
- erk, extracellular-signal-regulated kinase
- fcs, fetal calf serum
- gpcr, g-protein-coupled receptor
- hb-egf, heparin-binding egf
- hsp, heat-shock protein
- jnk, c-jun n-terminal kinase
- mapk, mitogen-activated protein kinase
- mek, mapk/erk kinase
- mmp, matrix metalloproteinase
- nac, n-acetylcysteine
- pi3k, phosphoinositide 3-kinase
- pkc, protein kinase c
- ros, reactive oxygen species
- sapk, stress-activated protein kinase
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Friedman
- *Department of Biological Regulation, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Sarah Kraus
- *Department of Biological Regulation, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | | | | | - Rony Seger
- *Department of Biological Regulation, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
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Sanchez S, Haro E, Ruffié G, Veyret B, Lagroye I. In vitro study of the stress response of human skin cells to GSM-1800 mobile phone signals compared to UVB radiation and heat shock. Radiat Res 2007; 167:572-80. [PMID: 17474794 DOI: 10.1667/rr0802.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2006] [Accepted: 11/13/2006] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
The evolution of mobile phone technology is toward an increase of the carrier frequency up to 2.45 GHz. Absorption of radiofrequency (RF) radiation becomes more superficial as the frequency increases. This increasingly superficial absorption of RF radiation by the skin, which is the first organ exposed to RF radiation, may lead to stress responses in skin cells. We thus investigated the expression of three heat-shock proteins (HSP70, HSC70, HSP27) using immunohistochemistry and induction of apoptosis by flow cytometry on human primary keratinocytes and fibroblasts. A well-characterized exposure system, SXC 1800, built by the IT'IS foundation was used at 1800 MHz, with a 217 Hz modulation. We tested a 48-h exposure at an SAR of 2 W/kg (ICNIRP local exposure limit). Skin cells were also irradiated with a 600 mJ/cm2 single dose of UVB radiation and subjected to heat shock (45 degrees C, 20 min) as positive controls for apoptosis and HSP expression, respectively. The results showed no effect of a 48-h GSM-1800 exposure at 2 W/kg on either keratinocytes or fibroblasts, in contrast to UVB-radiation or heat-shock treatments, which injured cells. We thus conclude that the GSM-1800 signal does not act as a stress factor on human primary skin cells in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Sanchez
- University of Bordeaux 1, IMS Laboratory, UMR 5218 CNRS, EPHE Bioelectromagnetics Group, Pessac, France.
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Remondini D, Nylund R, Reivinen J, Poulletier de Gannes F, Veyret B, Lagroye I, Haro E, Trillo MA, Capri M, Franceschi C, Schlatterer K, Gminski R, Fitzner R, Tauber R, Schuderer J, Kuster N, Leszczynski D, Bersani F, Maercker C. Gene expression changes in human cells after exposure to mobile phone microwaves. Proteomics 2006; 6:4745-54. [PMID: 16878293 DOI: 10.1002/pmic.200500896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Possible biological effects of mobile phone microwaves were investigated in vitro. In this study, which was part of the 5FP EU project REFLEX (Risk Evaluation of Potential Environmental Hazards From Low-Energy Electromagnetic Field Exposure Using Sensitive in vitro Methods), six human cell types, immortalized cell lines and primary cells, were exposed to 900 and 1800 MHz. RNA was isolated from exposed and sham-exposed cells and labeled for transcriptome analysis on whole-genome cDNA arrays. The results were evaluated statistically using bioinformatics techniques and examined for biological relevance with the help of different databases. NB69 neuroblastoma cells, T lymphocytes, and CHME5 microglial cells did not show significant changes in gene expression. In EA.hy926 endothelial cells, U937 lymphoblastoma cells, and HL-60 leukemia cells we found between 12 and 34 up- or down-regulated genes. Analysis of the affected gene families does not point towards a stress response. However, following microwave exposure, some but not all human cells might react with an increase in expression of genes encoding ribosomal proteins and therefore up-regulating the cellular metabolism.
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Chauhan V, Mariampillai A, Gajda GB, Thansandote A, McNamee JP. Analysis of proto-oncogene and heat-shock protein gene expression in human derived cell-lines exposed in vitro to an intermittent 1.9 GHz pulse-modulated radiofrequency field. Int J Radiat Biol 2006; 82:347-54. [PMID: 16782652 DOI: 10.1080/09553000600771549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Several studies have reported that radiofrequency (RF) fields, as emitted by mobile phones, may cause changes in gene expression in cultured human cell-lines. The current study was undertaken to evaluate this possibility in two human-derived immune cell-lines. MATERIALS AND METHODS HL-60 and Mono-Mac-6 (MM6) cells were individually exposed to intermittent (5 min on, 10 min off) 1.9 GHz pulse-modulated RF fields at a average specific absorption rate (SAR) of 1 and 10 W/kg at 37 +/- 0.5 degrees C for 6 h. Concurrent negative and positive (heat-shock for 1 h at 43 degrees C) controls were conducted with each experiment. Immediately following RF field exposure (T = 6 h) and 18 h post-exposure (T = 24 h), cell pellets were collected from each of the culture dishes and analyzed for transcript levels of proto-oncogenes (c-jun, c-myc and c-fos) and the stress-related genes (heat shock proteins (HSP) HSP27 and HSP70B) by quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS No significant effects were observed in mRNA expression of HSP27, HSP70, c-jun, c-myc or c-fos between the sham and RF-exposed groups, in either of the two cell-lines. However, the positive (heat-shock) control group displayed a significant elevation in the expression of HSP27, HSP70, c-fos and c-jun in both cell-lines at T = 6 and 24 h, relative to the sham and negative control groups. CONCLUSION This study found no evidence that exposure of cells to non-thermalizing levels of 1.9 GHz pulse-modulated RF fields can cause any detectable change in stress-related gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinita Chauhan
- Consumer and Clinical Radiation Protection Bureau, Healthy Environment and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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