Effects of pulse-modulated radiofrequency magnetic field (RF-EMF) exposure on apoptosis, autophagy, oxidative stress and electron chain transport function in human neuroblastoma and murine microglial cells

2020 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 2103

Study snapshot

Publicationmanual · 2020

Study typein_vitro

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Effects of pulse-modulated radiofrequency magnetic field (RF-EMF) exposure on apoptosis, autophagy, oxidative stress and electron chain transport function in human neuroblastoma and murine microglial cells Jana Zielinski, Angélique D. Ducray, Anja M. Moeller, Manuel Murbach, Niels Kuster, Meike Mevissen. Effects of pulse-modulated radiofrequency magnetic field (RF-EMF) exposure on apoptosis, autophagy, oxidative stress and electron chain transport function in human neuroblastoma and murine microglial cells. Toxicology in Vitro. Vol. 68, October 2020, 104963. doi.org. Highlights • RF-EMF exposure (935 MHz, 4 W/kg) did not cause apoptosis in SH-SY5Y and microglial cells. • The time-dependent increase in autophagy markers is related to the cell type. • A transient increase in oxidative stress was seen at SAR levels above the standards. Abstract The use of body-worn wireless devices with different communication protocols and rapidly changing exposure scenarios is still multiplying and the need to identify possible health effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) exposure with extremely low-frequency (ELF) modulation envelops. In this study, effects of ELF- modulated 935 MHz RF-EMF on apoptosis, autophagy, oxidative stress and electron exchange in N9 microglial and SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells were investigated. Cells were exposed at 4 W/kg or sham-exposed for 2 and 24 h. RF-EMF exposure of both cell types did not alter apoptosis, the number of living cells nor the apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF), irrespective of the exposure duration. RF-EMF exposure for 24, but not for 2 h, increased protein levels of the autophagy marker ATG5, whereas LC3B-I and II and pERK were not altered in both cell types and exposure times investigated. A transient increase in glutathione (GSH), but not hydrogen peroxide and cytochrome c oxidase was found only in SH-SY5Y cells, indicating that short-time RF-EMF at SAR levels accepted by today's safety guidelines might cause autophagy and oxidative stress with the effect being dependent on cell type and exposure duration. Further studies are needed to evaluate possible underlying mechanisms involved in pulse-modulated RF-EMF exposure. sciencedirect.com

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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

PopulationHuman SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells and murine N9 microglial cells

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureRF · 935 MHz · 4 W/kg · 2 h and 24 h

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Cells exposed to ELF-modulated 935 MHz RF-EMF at 4 W/kg for 2 or 24 h showed no changes in apoptosis, number of living cells, or AIF in either cell type. After 24 h (but not 2 h), ATG5 protein levels increased, while LC3B-I/II and pERK were not altered. A transient increase in glutathione was observed only in SH-SY5Y cells; hydrogen peroxide and cytochrome c oxidase were not changed.

Outcomes measured

Apoptosis
Autophagy markers (ATG5, LC3B-I/II)
Oxidative stress markers (glutathione, hydrogen peroxide)
Electron chain transport / cytochrome c oxidase
pERK
Cell viability / number of living cells
Apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF)

Limitations

In vitro cell models (SH-SY5Y and N9) may not generalize to in vivo outcomes
Only one RF frequency (935 MHz) and one SAR level (4 W/kg) reported
Limited exposure durations (2 h and 24 h)
Mechanisms not established; authors note further studies are needed
Sample size and replication details not provided in abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "in_vitro",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "body-worn wireless devices (context)",
    "frequency_mhz": 935,
    "sar_wkg": 4,
    "duration": "2 h and 24 h"
  },
  "population": "Human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells and murine N9 microglial cells",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Apoptosis",
    "Autophagy markers (ATG5, LC3B-I/II)",
    "Oxidative stress markers (glutathione, hydrogen peroxide)",
    "Electron chain transport / cytochrome c oxidase",
    "pERK",
    "Cell viability / number of living cells",
    "Apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Cells exposed to ELF-modulated 935 MHz RF-EMF at 4 W/kg for 2 or 24 h showed no changes in apoptosis, number of living cells, or AIF in either cell type. After 24 h (but not 2 h), ATG5 protein levels increased, while LC3B-I/II and pERK were not altered. A transient increase in glutathione was observed only in SH-SY5Y cells; hydrogen peroxide and cytochrome c oxidase were not changed.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "In vitro cell models (SH-SY5Y and N9) may not generalize to in vivo outcomes",
    "Only one RF frequency (935 MHz) and one SAR level (4 W/kg) reported",
    "Limited exposure durations (2 h and 24 h)",
    "Mechanisms not established; authors note further studies are needed",
    "Sample size and replication details not provided in abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "RF-EMF",
    "pulse-modulated",
    "ELF modulation",
    "935 MHz",
    "SAR 4 W/kg",
    "SH-SY5Y",
    "N9 microglia",
    "apoptosis",
    "autophagy",
    "ATG5",
    "oxidative stress",
    "glutathione",
    "cytochrome c oxidase"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "who-icnirp",
      "weight": 0.32,
      "reason": "Study explicitly references SAR levels accepted by current safety guidelines."
    }
  ]
}

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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.2020
PubMed: Not supplied

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