Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Does MW Radiation Affect Gene Expression, Apoptotic Level, and Cell Cycle Progression of Human SH-SY5Y Neuroblastoma Cells? med./bio.

By: Kayhan H, Esmekaya MA, Saglam AS, Tuysuz MZ, Canseven AG, Yagci AM, Seyhan N

Published in: Cell Biochem Biophys 2016; 74 (2): 99-107

Exposure

- 2.1 GHz
- microwaves
- W-CDMA
- mobile communications

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 2.1 GHz Exposure duration: continuous for 24 hours	electric field strength: 55 V/m power: 0.316 W (antenna input power) SAR: 0.235 W/kg minimum (1 g) SAR: 0.491 W/kg maximum (1 g) SAR: 0.35 W/kg mean (1 g)

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	2.1 GHz
Type	electromagnetic field
Exposure duration	continuous for 24 hours

Modulation

Modulation type	cf. additional info
Additional info	W-CDMA modulation

Exposure setup

Exposure source	horn antenna
Chamber	polystyrene plate with 24 wells in a CO₂ incubator
Setup	antenna which radiated vertically upwards on the well plate 1 mm above; the temperature inside the incubator was kept constant at 37°C
Sham exposure	A sham exposure was conducted.

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
electric field strength	55 V/m	-	measured	-	-
power	0.316 W	-	-	-	antenna input power
SAR	0.235 W/kg	minimum	calculated	1 g	-
SAR	0.491 W/kg	maximum	calculated	1 g	-
SAR	0.35 W/kg	mean	calculated	1 g	-

Measurement and calculation details

SAR was determined with Finite Difference Time Domain simulations

Exposed system:

intact cell/cell culture
human neuroblastoma cell line (SH-SY5Y)

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

genotoxicity/mutation: DNA fragmentation (DNA gel electrophoresis)
molecular biosynthesis: gene expression of c-myc (marker for cell proliferation) and cyclin D1 (marker for cell cycle progression) (real-time RT-PCR)
cell viability/cell division/proliferation: apoptosis (annexin V-FITC and propidium iodide stain, flow cytometry), cell cycle analysis (flow cytometry), cell viability (trypan blue exclusion, automated cell counter)

Investigated system:

DNA/RNA
intact cell/cell culture

Time of investigation:

after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

The gene expressions of c-myc and cyclin D1 were significantly decreased and the percentage of cells in G1 phase was significantly higher in exposed cells compared to sham exposed cells, indicating cell cycle arrest in G1 phase.
There were no significant differences in apoptosis, cell viability or DNA fragmentation observed between exposed and sham exposed cells.
The authors conclude that exposure of neuroblastoma cells to a 2.1 GHz electromagnetic field (W-CDMA) has no effect on apoptosis but might change the cell cycle progression.

Study character:

medical/biological study
experimental study
full/main study

Study funded by

not stated/no funding

Calabro E et al. (2012): Modulation of heat shock protein response in SH-SY5Y by mobile phone microwaves
Sekijima M et al. (2010): 2-GHz band CW and W-CDMA modulated radiofrequency fields have no significant effect on cell proliferation and gene expression profile in human cells
Moquet J et al. (2008): Exposure to low level GSM 935 MHZ radiofrequency fields does not induce apoptosis in proliferating or differentiated murine neuroblastoma cells
Hoyto A et al. (2008): Proliferation, Oxidative Stress and Cell Death in Cells Exposed to 872 MHz Radiofrequency Radiation and Oxidants
Chauhan V et al. (2007): Evaluating the biological effects of intermittent 1.9 GHz pulse-modulated radiofrequency fields in a series of human-derived cell lines
Sakuma N et al. (2006): DNA strand breaks are not induced in human cells exposed to 2.1425 GHz band CW and W-CDMA modulated radiofrequency fields allocated to mobile radio base stations
Merola P et al. (2006): Proliferation and apoptosis in a neuroblastoma cell line exposed to 900 MHz modulated radiofrequency field
Joubert V et al. (2006): Microwave exposure of neuronal cells in vitro: Study of apoptosis
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Lantow M et al. (2006): Comparative study of cell cycle kinetics and induction of apoptosis or necrosis after exposure of human mono mac 6 cells to radiofrequency radiation
Higashikubo R et al. (2001): Radiofrequency electromagnetic fields do not alter the cell cycle progression of C3H 10T and U87MG cells