Medical/biological Study (experimental study)

2.45 GHz radiofrequency fields alter gene expression in cultured human cells. med./biol.

PubMed Entry

Journal web site

Aim of study (according to author)
To study whether radiofrequency fields can cause changes in gene expression in cultured human cells. The authors aimed to provide genome-wide coverage of the expressed genes regardless their functional categories in the radiofrequency treated cells to address if radiofrequency has biological effects.

Endpoint

• molecular biosynthesis: gene expression

Exposure
General category: 2.45 GHz

Field characteristics	Parameters
2.45 GHz pulsed (PW) exposure duration: continuous for 2 or 6 h	SAR: 10 W/kg mean value SAR: 133 W/kg peak value electric field strength: 320 V/m peak value

Exposed system:
intact cell/cell culture (in vitro)
HL-60 (human acute myeloid leukaemia cells)

Methods
Endpoint/Measurement parameters/Methodology

• molecular biosynthesis: gene expression (serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE))

Main outcome of study (according to author)
The authors revealed that 221 genes altered their expression after a 2 h exposure. The number of affected genes increased to 759 after a 6 h exposure. Functional classification of the affected genes showed that apoptosis-related genes were among the upregulated ones and the cell cycle genes among the downregulated ones. No significant increase in the expression of heat shock protein genes was found.
These data suggest that the radiofrequency fields at 2.45 GHz can alter gene expression in cultured human cells through non-thermal mechanism.

(Study character: medical/biological study, experimental study, full/main study)

Study funded by

• Air Force Office of Scientific Research/Department of Defense Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative (AFOSR/DOD MURI), USA
• Department of Defense (DoD), USA

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