Mobile phone signal exposure triggers a hormesis-like effect in Atm+/+ and Atm-/- mouse embryonic fibroblasts

2016 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 1410

Study snapshot

Publicationmanual · 2016

Study typein_vitro

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Mobile phone signal exposure triggers a hormesis-like effect in Atm+/+ and Atm-/- mouse embryonic fibroblasts Sun C, Wei X, Fei Y, Su L, Zhao X, Chen G, Xu Z. Mobile phone signal exposure triggers a hormesis-like effect in Atm+/+ and Atm-/- mouse embryonic fibroblasts. Sci Rep. 2016 Nov 18;6:37423. doi: 10.1038/srep37423. Abstract Radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMFs) have been classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as possible carcinogens to humans; however, this conclusion is based on limited epidemiological findings and lacks solid support from experimental studies. In particular, there are no consistent data regarding the genotoxicity of RF-EMFs. Ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) is recognised as a chief guardian of genomic stability. To address the debate on whether RF-EMFs are genotoxic, we compared the effects of 1,800 MHz RF- EMF exposure on genomic DNA in mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) with proficient (Atm+/+) or deficient (Atm-/-) ATM. In Atm+/+ MEFs, RF-EMF exposure for 1 h at an average special absorption rate of 4.0 W/kg induced significant DNA single-strand breaks (SSBs) and activated the SSB repair mechanism. This effect reduced the DNA damage to less than that of the background level after 36 hours of exposure. In the Atm-/- MEFs, the same RF-EMF exposure for 12 h induced both SSBs and double-strand breaks and activated the two repair processes, which also reduced the DNA damage to less than the control level after prolonged exposure. The observed phenomenon is similar to the hormesis of a toxic substance at a low dose. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to report a hormesis-like effect of an RF-EMF. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

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AI evidence extraction

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Study typein_vitro

Effect directionmixed

PopulationMouse embryonic fibroblasts (Atm+/+ and Atm-/-)

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureRF · 1800 MHz · 4 W/kg · 1 h (Atm+/+); 12 h (Atm-/-); DNA damage assessed up to 36 h and after prolonged exposure

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

In Atm+/+ mouse embryonic fibroblasts, 1,800 MHz RF-EMF exposure for 1 h at an average SAR of 4.0 W/kg induced significant DNA single-strand breaks and activated SSB repair, with DNA damage reduced to below background level after 36 h of exposure. In Atm-/- fibroblasts, the same exposure for 12 h induced both SSBs and double-strand breaks and activated repair processes, with DNA damage reduced to less than control after prolonged exposure; authors describe this as a hormesis-like effect.

Outcomes measured

DNA single-strand breaks (SSBs)
DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs)
Activation of DNA repair mechanisms
Genotoxicity (genomic DNA damage)

Limitations

In vitro study in mouse embryonic fibroblasts; generalizability to humans not established in abstract
Exposure conditions include high SAR (4.0 W/kg) and specific durations; relevance to typical real-world exposures not stated
Sample size and experimental replication not reported in abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "in_vitro",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile phone signal",
    "frequency_mhz": 1800,
    "sar_wkg": 4,
    "duration": "1 h (Atm+/+); 12 h (Atm-/-); DNA damage assessed up to 36 h and after prolonged exposure"
  },
  "population": "Mouse embryonic fibroblasts (Atm+/+ and Atm-/-)",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "DNA single-strand breaks (SSBs)",
    "DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs)",
    "Activation of DNA repair mechanisms",
    "Genotoxicity (genomic DNA damage)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "In Atm+/+ mouse embryonic fibroblasts, 1,800 MHz RF-EMF exposure for 1 h at an average SAR of 4.0 W/kg induced significant DNA single-strand breaks and activated SSB repair, with DNA damage reduced to below background level after 36 h of exposure. In Atm-/- fibroblasts, the same exposure for 12 h induced both SSBs and double-strand breaks and activated repair processes, with DNA damage reduced to less than control after prolonged exposure; authors describe this as a hormesis-like effect.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "In vitro study in mouse embryonic fibroblasts; generalizability to humans not established in abstract",
    "Exposure conditions include high SAR (4.0 W/kg) and specific durations; relevance to typical real-world exposures not stated",
    "Sample size and experimental replication not reported in abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "RF-EMF",
    "radiofrequency electromagnetic fields",
    "mobile phone signal",
    "1800 MHz",
    "SAR 4.0 W/kg",
    "genotoxicity",
    "DNA damage",
    "single-strand breaks",
    "double-strand breaks",
    "ATM",
    "Atm+/+",
    "Atm-/-",
    "mouse embryonic fibroblasts",
    "hormesis"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "mobile-phones-rf",
      "weight": 0.9,
      "reason": "Study tests mobile phone signal RF-EMF exposure at 1,800 MHz."
    },
    {
      "slug": "genotoxicity-dna-damage",
      "weight": 0.85,
      "reason": "Assesses DNA strand breaks and repair activation as genotoxicity endpoints."
    }
  ]
}

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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: 10.1038/srep37423
PubMed: Not supplied

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