Effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic field exposure on neuronal differentiation and mitochondrial function in SH-SY5Y cells

2019 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 1748

Exposure at 935 MHz (4 W/kg) for 24 h did not quantitatively alter neuronal phenotypes and did not significantly affect MAPK/Erk1/2, Akt, GSK3β, or Wnt/β-catenin markers versus sham. RF-EMF impaired mitochondrial respiration in cells under glucose deprivation…

Study snapshot

Publicationmanual · 2019

Study typein_vitro

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic field exposure on neuronal differentiation and mitochondrial function in SH-SY5Y cells von Niederhäusern N, Ducray A, Zielinski J, Murbach M, Mevissen M. Effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic field exposure on neuronal differentiation and mitochondrial function in SH-SY5Y cells. Toxicol In Vitro. 2019 Jul 24:104609. doi: 10.1016/j.tiv.2019.104609. Abstract Exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) has dramatically increased in the last decades with expanding use of mobile phones worldwide. The aim of this study was to evaluate effects of RF-EMF on neuronal differentiation and underlying signaling pathways involved in neuronal differentiation, neurodegeneration, and mitochondrial function. Differentiation of SH-SY5Y cells was performed using all-trans retinoic acid or staurosporine to obtain cholinergic and dopaminergic neurons. Exposure of SH-SY5Y cells at 935 MHz, 4 W/kg for 24 h did not alter the neuronal phenotypes quantitatively. Markers of the signaling pathways investigated, namely the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK), extracellular signal-regulated kinases (Erk) 1 and 2 (p- Erk1/2) and protein kinase B (Akt), glycogen synthase kinase 3 β (GSK3β) and Wnt/β-catenin were not significantly affected by RF-EMF compared to sham. RF-EMF-impaired mitochondrial respiration in cells under glucose deprivation, but glutathione levels and mitochondrial fission and fusion markers were not altered. These findings indicate that RF-EMF might lead to an impairment of mitochondrial function that is only manifest at maximal respiration and additional stressors such as glucose deprivation. Further research is needed to investigate the effects of RF-EMF on mitochondrial function in detail because mitochondrial impairment is closely related to the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. 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 directionmixed

PopulationSH-SY5Y cells differentiated into cholinergic and dopaminergic neurons (using all-trans retinoic acid or staurosporine)

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureRF · 935 MHz · 4 W/kg · 24 h

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Outcomes measured

neuronal differentiation/phenotype (cholinergic and dopaminergic)
MAPK/Erk1/2 (p-Erk1/2) signaling markers
Akt signaling markers
GSK3β signaling markers
Wnt/β-catenin signaling markers
mitochondrial respiration (including under glucose deprivation/maximal respiration)
glutathione levels
mitochondrial fission and fusion markers

Limitations

In vitro SH-SY5Y cell model; applicability to humans not addressed in abstract
Mitochondrial impairment reported only under additional stressor (glucose deprivation)

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "in_vitro",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": 935,
    "sar_wkg": 4,
    "duration": "24 h"
  },
  "population": "SH-SY5Y cells differentiated into cholinergic and dopaminergic neurons (using all-trans retinoic acid or staurosporine)",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "neuronal differentiation/phenotype (cholinergic and dopaminergic)",
    "MAPK/Erk1/2 (p-Erk1/2) signaling markers",
    "Akt signaling markers",
    "GSK3β signaling markers",
    "Wnt/β-catenin signaling markers",
    "mitochondrial respiration (including under glucose deprivation/maximal respiration)",
    "glutathione levels",
    "mitochondrial fission and fusion markers"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Exposure at 935 MHz (4 W/kg) for 24 h did not quantitatively alter neuronal phenotypes and did not significantly affect MAPK/Erk1/2, Akt, GSK3β, or Wnt/β-catenin markers versus sham. RF-EMF impaired mitochondrial respiration in cells under glucose deprivation, while glutathione levels and mitochondrial fission/fusion markers were not altered.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "In vitro SH-SY5Y cell model; applicability to humans not addressed in abstract",
    "Mitochondrial impairment reported only under additional stressor (glucose deprivation)"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "radiofrequency electromagnetic fields",
    "RF-EMF",
    "935 MHz",
    "SAR 4 W/kg",
    "SH-SY5Y",
    "neuronal differentiation",
    "cholinergic",
    "dopaminergic",
    "MAPK",
    "Erk1/2",
    "Akt",
    "GSK3β",
    "Wnt/β-catenin",
    "mitochondrial respiration",
    "glucose deprivation",
    "glutathione",
    "mitochondrial fission",
    "mitochondrial fusion"
  ],
  "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.tiv.2019.104609
PubMed: Not supplied

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