Activity and expression of acetylcholinesterase in PC12 cells exposed to intermittent 1.8 GHz 217-GSM mobile phone signal.

International journal of radiation biology · 2016 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 4727

After 24 h exposure to a 1.8 GHz 217-GSM signal at SAR 2 W/kg, AChE enzymatic activity increased 1.4-fold in PC12 cells. AChE mRNA and protein expression were reported as not affected.

Study snapshot

PublicationInternational journal of radiation biology · 2016

Study typein_vitro

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

PURPOSE: Due to its role in learning, memory and in many neurodegenerative diseases, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) represents an interesting endpoint to assess possible targets of exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) generated by mobile phones. We investigated possible alterations of enzymatic activity, gene and protein expression of AChE in neuronal-like cells exposed to a 1.8 GHz Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) modulated signal (217-GSM). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Rat PC12 cells were exposed for 24 h to 1.8 GHz 217-GSM signal. Specific adsorption rate (SAR) was 2 W/kg. AChE enzyme activity was assessed spectrophotometrically by Ellman's method, mRNA expression level was evaluated by real time polymerase chain reaction, and protein expression was assessed by Western blotting. RESULTS: AChE enzymatic activity increased of 1.4-fold in PC12 cells exposed to 217-GSM signal for 24 h, whilst AChE transcriptional or translational pathways were not affected. CONCLUSION: Our results provide the first evidence of effects on AChE activity after in vitro exposure of mammalian cells to the RF-EMF generated by GSM mobile phones, at the SAR value 2 W/kg. The obtained evidence promotes further investigations on AChE as a possible target of RF-EMF and confirm the ability of 1.8 GHz 217-GSM signal to induce biological effects in different mammalian cells.

Machine Enhanced Logic

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

PopulationRat PC12 (neuronal-like) cells

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureRF · 1800 MHz · 2 W/kg · 24 h

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

After 24 h exposure to a 1.8 GHz 217-GSM signal at SAR 2 W/kg, AChE enzymatic activity increased 1.4-fold in PC12 cells. AChE mRNA and protein expression were reported as not affected.

Outcomes measured

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) enzymatic activity
AChE mRNA expression (RT-PCR)
AChE protein expression (Western blot)

Limitations

In vitro cell model (PC12 rat cells), limiting direct inference to human health outcomes
Exposure duration limited to 24 h
Sample size and replication details not provided in abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "in_vitro",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile phone",
    "frequency_mhz": 1800,
    "sar_wkg": 2,
    "duration": "24 h"
  },
  "population": "Rat PC12 (neuronal-like) cells",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) enzymatic activity",
    "AChE mRNA expression (RT-PCR)",
    "AChE protein expression (Western blot)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "After 24 h exposure to a 1.8 GHz 217-GSM signal at SAR 2 W/kg, AChE enzymatic activity increased 1.4-fold in PC12 cells. AChE mRNA and protein expression were reported as not affected.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "In vitro cell model (PC12 rat cells), limiting direct inference to human health outcomes",
    "Exposure duration limited to 24 h",
    "Sample size and replication details not provided in abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "acetylcholinesterase",
    "AChE",
    "PC12 cells",
    "1.8 GHz",
    "GSM",
    "217-GSM",
    "RF-EMF",
    "SAR 2 W/kg",
    "in vitro",
    "enzyme activity",
    "gene expression",
    "protein expression"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "mobile-phones-rf",
      "weight": 0.9,
      "reason": "In vitro exposure to GSM mobile phone RF signal (1.8 GHz, 217-GSM)."
    }
  ]
}

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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: 10.3109/09553002.2016.1114188
PubMed: 26630175

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