In vitro Effect of Radiofrequency on hsp70 Gene Expression and Immune-effector Cells of Birds

Abstract

Poultry birds under free range system of management are a good biological indicator for lowintensity Electro-Magnetic Frequency radiations (EMF-r) for their vulnerability to EMF-r. The effect of EMF-r on different biological systems was extensively studied but no consistent effects had been inferred in this regard. With the aim of assessing the in vitro effect of radio frequency (RF) exposure on cellular stress and on functional activities of immune-effectors cells of poultry, this study was conducted. Two rural breeds [one best adapted exotic breed-Rhode Island Red (RIR) and one indigenous breed-Haringhata Black (HB)] were used. Blood samples, collected from six healthy birds of each species, were used for neutrophil functional assay by nitro blue terazolium (NBT) reduction test. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), obtained from blood were used for lymphoproliferation assay by 3 -[4, 5 -dimethlythiazol-2yl] -2, 5 -di phenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT dye) and expression of hsp70 gene by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis. Prior to the experiment, PBMC were cultured into tissue culture plates and blood for NBT assay was taken in separate micro-centrifuge tubes from the sample of each bird in duplicates under bio-safety cabinet for radiofrequency exposure. The plates and tubes were exposed to 850 and 1200 MHz radiofrequency field from a standard mobile phone separately along with a power analyzer (SAR 1.7 W/Kg) for 5 minutes, 15 minutes, 25 minutes, 40 minutes and 60 minutes. The common trend of the hsp70 gene expression in RIR and HB breed of birds were observed upon 850 RF exposures from 25 minutes onward. The results showed that upon 1200 MHz RF post exposure, hsp70 gene expression occurred at 25 minutes onward in HB breed birds and 60 minutes post exposure in case of RIR bird. A typical trend of initial significant (P ≤ 0.05) decrease (5 minutes through 15 minutes post exposure) followed by significant (P ≤ 0.05) increase in lymphoproliferation from 25 minutes to 60 minutes, was observed in both the breeds and magnitude of exposures. All the test groups no significant variation in superoxide production by neutrophil. It may be concluded that, lower radiofrequency (850 MHz) emitted by mobile phone poses more stressful effect than the higher radiofrequency (1200 MHz) on in vitro exposed cells in both the breeds as indicated by expression of hsp70 gene and initial suppression of proliferation ability.All copyrights reserved to Nexus® academic publishers