Exposure to cell phone radiation up-regulates apoptosis genes in primary cultures of neurons and astrocytes

Abstract

The health effects of cell phone radiation exposure are a growing public concern. This study investigated whether expression of genes related to cell death pathways are dysregulated in primary cultured neurons and astrocytes by exposure to a working GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication) cell phone rated at a frequency of 1900 MHz. Primary cultures were exposed to cell phone emissions for 2 hrs. We used array analysis and real-time RT-PCR to show up-regulation of caspase-2, caspase-6 and Asc (apoptosis associated speck-like protein containing a card) gene expression in neurons and astrocytes. Upregulation occurred in both "on" and "stand-by" modes in neurons, but only in "on" mode in astrocytes. Additionally, astrocytes showed up-regulation of the Bax gene. The effects are specific since up-regulation was not seen for other genes associated with apoptosis, such as caspase-9 in either neurons and astrocytes, or Bax in neurons. The results show that even relatively short-term exposure to cell phone radiofrequency emissions can up-regulate elements of apoptotic pathways in cells derived from the brain, and that neurons appear to be more sensitive to this effect than astrocytes.

Epidemiology of Glioma

“…A significant change in cell proliferation in response to radiofrequency MFs, independent of thermal activity, has been reported in a cell culture experiment involving transformed human epithelial amnion cells (Velizarov et al 1999). Effects demonstrated in other studies include up-regulation of apoptosis genes, induction of reactive oxygen species, changes in protein conformation, the creation of stress proteins, and immune system disturbances (Zhao et al 2007;Sage and Carpenter 2009;NRPB 2003;Valentini et al 2007;Ruediger 2009). Caution is advised when interpreting these effects since numerous contradictory results are present in the literature.…”

The Main Approaches of Studying the Mechanisms of Action of Artificial Electromagnetic Fields on Cell

“…There are evidences of microwave exposure (1,71 GHz) influence on hsp70, c-jun, c-myc, and p21 levels in p53-deficient cells, but not in wild-type cells [79]. The EMF-induced changes of the transcript level of cell cycle regulatory and apoptosis-related genes were shown [80,81]. The 3.5 fold upregulation of mRNA stress-related transcription factor bZIP after exposure to 900 MHz microwaves was shown [82].…”

Effects of exposure to electromagnetic field radiation (EMFR) generated by activated mobile phones on fasting blood glucose

“…It has been reported that sustained hyperglycemia induces early and severe β-cell dysfunction, and excess glucose causes β-cell loss via apoptosis [26]. Cell phone radiation can lead to the change of genetic regulation [27] and exacerbate oxidative stress [14,28]. Oxidative stress may more directly promote the onset of diabetes mellitus by decreasing insulin sensitivity and destroying the β-cell function within the pancreas [29].…”