Hippocampal lipidome and transcriptome profile alterations triggered by acute exposure of mice to GSM 1800 MHz mobile phone radiation: An exploratory study

Abstract

BackgroundThe widespread use of wireless devices during the last decades is raising concerns about adverse health effects of the radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation (RF‐EMR) emitted from these devices. Recent research is focusing on unraveling the underlying mechanisms of RF‐EMR and potential cellular targets. The “omics” high‐throughput approaches are powerful tools to investigate the global effects of RF‐EMR on cellular physiology.MethodsIn this work, C57BL/6 adult male mice were whole‐body exposed (nE xp = 8) for 2 hr to GSM 1800 MHz mobile phone radiation at an average electric field intensity range of 4.3–17.5 V/m or sham‐exposed (nSE = 8), and the RF‐EMR effects on the hippocampal lipidome and transcriptome profiles were assessed 6 hr later.ResultsThe data analysis of the phospholipid fatty acid residues revealed that the levels of four fatty acids [16:0, 16:1 (6c + 7c), 18:1 9c, eicosapentaenoic acid omega‐3 (EPA, 20:5 ω3)] and the two fatty acid sums of saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids (SFA and MUFA) were significantly altered (p < 0.05) in the exposed group. The observed changes indicate a membrane remodeling response of the tissue phospholipids after nonionizing radiation exposure, reducing SFA and EPA, while increasing MUFA residues. The microarray data analysis demonstrated that the expression of 178 genes changed significantly (p < 0.05) between the two groups, revealing an impact on genes involved in critical biological processes, such as cell cycle, DNA replication and repair, cell death, cell signaling, nervous system development and function, immune system response, lipid metabolism, and carcinogenesis.ConclusionsThis study provides preliminary evidence that mobile phone radiation induces hippocampal lipidome and transcriptome changes that may explain the brain proteome changes and memory deficits previously shown by our group.

Development of health-based exposure limits for radiofrequency radiation from wireless devices using a benchmark dose approach

“…The mechanisms by which radiofrequency radiation affects cells, tissues, and organisms are not well understood and may include diverse processes such as inhibition of the mitotic spindle apparatus leading to impaired cell division and cell death [22], changes in the activity of voltage-gated calcium channels [23][24][25][26], changes in the concentrations of reactive oxygen species and redox homeostasis [25,[27][28][29][30][31][32], changes in intracellular enzymes and gene expression [33], and changes in membrane permeability [34]. DNA damage following exposure to RFR [35,36] may be a direct effect or due to secondary mechanisms, such as interference with DNA repair processes [37].…”

Behavioral impairments and biochemical alterations in brain following exposure to WiFi radiation and aluminum in rats

“…Although the brain is recognized among the most vulnerable organs to radiofrequencies [14,15], there are many controversies regarding neurological outcomes of these radiation in both laboratory animals [16] and humans [17]. Behavioral changes associated with radiofrequency radiation were due to several neural and molecular mechanisms [18] including changes in hippocampal lipidome and transcriptome [19] and an increase in vacuolization in brain tissues [13]. WiFi radiation are reported to be an important threat to human health [20].…”

Experimental evolution of extremophile levels of radiation resistance in Escherichia coli

“…Direct ionization and indirect oxidation of DNA through ROS leads to the accumulation of double-strand breaks (DSBs) of genomic DNA, which are lethal if left unrepaired (3)(4)(5)(6)(7). Cellular proteomes and lipidomes are also damaged (8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16). Some organisms exhibit an extraordinary capacity to survive high doses of IR.…”