Evidence of bystander effect induced by radiofrequency radiation in a human neuroblastoma cell line

Environmental research · 2021 · Benefit · Low evidence

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BenefitLow evidencePaper 1195

Study snapshot

PublicationEnvironmental research · 2021

Study typein_vitro

Reported directionBenefit

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Evidence of bystander effect induced by radiofrequency radiation in a human neuroblastoma cell line Olga Zeni, Stefania Romeo, Anna Sannino, Rosanna Palumbo, Maria Rosaria Scarfì. Evidence of bystander effect induced by radiofrequency radiation in a human neuroblastoma cell line. Environ Res. 2021 Feb 26;110935. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.110935. Abstract In previous studies we demonstrated that radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic fields (EMF) is able to reduce DNA damage induced by a subsequent treatment with genotoxic agents, resembling the adaptive response, a phenomenon well known in radiobiology. In this study we report on the capability of the culture medium from SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells exposed to 1950 MHz to elicit, in recipient non-exposed cells, a reduction of menadione-induced DNA damage (P<0.05; comet assay), indicating the capability of non-ionizing radiation to elicit a bystander effect. A comparable reduction was also detected in cultures directly exposed to the same EMF conditions (P<0.05), confirming the adaptive response. In the same exposure conditions, we also evidenced an increase of heat shock protein 70 (hsp70) in culture medium of cells exposed to RF with respect to sham exposed ones (western blot analysis; P<0.05), while no differences were detected in the intracellular content of hsp70. On the whole, our results evidence a protective effect of RF against menadione-induced DNA damage in directly and non-directly exposed cells, and suggest hsp70 pathway to be investigated as one of the potential candidate underpinning the interaction between RF exposure and biological systems. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

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AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typein_vitro

Effect directionbenefit

PopulationSH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cell line (recipient non-exposed cells also assessed via conditioned medium)

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureRF · 1950 MHz

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Culture medium from SH-SY5Y cells exposed to 1950 MHz reduced menadione-induced DNA damage in recipient non-exposed cells (P<0.05; comet assay), consistent with a bystander effect. A comparable reduction in menadione-induced DNA damage was also observed in directly exposed cultures (P<0.05). hsp70 was increased in the culture medium of RF-exposed cells versus sham (P<0.05), with no reported difference in intracellular hsp70.

Outcomes measured

Menadione-induced DNA damage (comet assay)
Heat shock protein 70 (hsp70) levels in culture medium (western blot)
Intracellular hsp70 content (western blot)

Limitations

In vitro cell-line study; findings may not generalize to in vivo or human health outcomes
Exposure metrics such as SAR and exposure duration not reported in the abstract
Sample size and replication details not provided in the abstract
Mechanistic inference (hsp70 pathway) is suggested but not established

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "in_vitro",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": 1950,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": "SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cell line (recipient non-exposed cells also assessed via conditioned medium)",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Menadione-induced DNA damage (comet assay)",
    "Heat shock protein 70 (hsp70) levels in culture medium (western blot)",
    "Intracellular hsp70 content (western blot)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Culture medium from SH-SY5Y cells exposed to 1950 MHz reduced menadione-induced DNA damage in recipient non-exposed cells (P<0.05; comet assay), consistent with a bystander effect. A comparable reduction in menadione-induced DNA damage was also observed in directly exposed cultures (P<0.05). hsp70 was increased in the culture medium of RF-exposed cells versus sham (P<0.05), with no reported difference in intracellular hsp70.",
  "effect_direction": "benefit",
  "limitations": [
    "In vitro cell-line study; findings may not generalize to in vivo or human health outcomes",
    "Exposure metrics such as SAR and exposure duration not reported in the abstract",
    "Sample size and replication details not provided in the abstract",
    "Mechanistic inference (hsp70 pathway) is suggested but not established"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "radiofrequency",
    "RF EMF",
    "1950 MHz",
    "bystander effect",
    "adaptive response",
    "DNA damage",
    "comet assay",
    "menadione",
    "SH-SY5Y",
    "neuroblastoma",
    "hsp70",
    "heat shock protein 70",
    "conditioned medium"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": []
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.110935
PubMed: 33647301

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