Assessment of Inflammation in 3D Reconstructed Human Skin Exposed to Combined Exposure to Ultraviolet and Wi-Fi Radiation

Abstract

In the human environment, the increasing exposure to radiofrequency (RF) radiation, especially that emitted by wireless devices, could be absorbed in the body. Recently, mobile and emerging wireless technologies (UMTS, DECT, LTE, and Wi-Fi) have been using higher frequencies than 2G GSM systems (900/1800 MHz), which means that most of the circulating RF currents are absorbed into the skin and the superficial soft tissue. The harmful genotoxic, cytotoxic, and mutagenic effects of solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation on the skin are well-known. This study aimed at investigating whether 2422 MHz (Wi-Fi) RF exposure combined with UV radiation in different sequences has any effect on the inflammation process in the skin. In vitro experiments examined the inflammation process by cytokines (IL-1α, IL-6, IL-8) and MMP-1 enzyme secretion in a 3D full-thickness human skin model. In the first study, UV exposure was immediately followed by RF exposure to measure the potential additive effects, while in the second study, the possible protective phenomenon (i.e., adaptive response) was investigated when adaptive RF exposure was challenged by UV radiation. Our results suggest that 2422 MHz Wi-Fi exposure slightly, not significantly increased cytokine concentrations of the prior UV exposure. We could not detect the adaptive response phenomenon.

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“…The methodology employed within this study is consistent with the latest research. Szilagyi et al, 63 measured circulating concentrations of MMP-1, IL-1α, IL-6 and IL-8 following ultraviolet and Wi-Fi radiation in a 3D human skin model. Further research ought to employ a more molecular methodology and involve quantifying protein expression of pro-inflammatory markers through western blotting and subsequently, support this data with gene expression of the same markers, via PCR.…”

Evaluation of mitochondrial stress following ultraviolet radiation and 5G radiofrequency field exposure in human skin cells

“…More recently, Szilágyi et al evaluated whether combined exposure of UV (2-4 SED, wavelenghts ≥295 nm with UVB, UVA, and visible light) and either Wi-Fi-modulated 2.422 GHz signal or Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS)-modulated 1.95 GHz signal affected inflammation-related cytokine production in a 3D-reconstructed human skin model (Szilágyi et al, 2020(Szilágyi et al, , 2023. In the first experimental protocol, reconstructed skin was first irradiated with a UV dose of two SED before being intermittently exposed (20 min ON/20 min OFF) to RF-EMF at 4 W/ kg for 24 h to assess a potential additive effect of RF-EMF exposure on UV-induced inflammatory effects on skin.…”

“…All biological tests were performed 24 h after the last UV irradiation or RF‐EMF exposure, and a delay of 4 h was set between UV and RF‐EMF exposure period whatever the protocol used (Szilágyi et al, 2020). Although some nonstatistically significant changes were seen, the authors found no evidence for a proinflammatory effect in 3D skin models exposed to either RF‐EMF signal alone or in combination with UV radiations (Szilágyi et al, 2023).…”

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“…An MMP/TIMP ratio imbalance has been linked to various diseases, including atherosclerosis, osteoarthritis, and cancer [ 119 ]. In the context of skin, prolonged exposure to UV radiation induces an upsurge in MMPs production within fibroblasts and keratinocytes, resulting in the degradation of normal collagen and elastin fibers, ultimately leading to skin damage and the potential development of skin cancer [ 120 ]. Notably, senescent fibroblasts can induce collagen degradation through the secretion of senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), mediating MMP-1 expression in normal fibroblasts.…”