Exposure to ELF-pulse modulated X band microwaves increases in vitro human astrocytoma cell proliferation.

Histology and histopathology · 2009 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 4940

Study snapshot

PublicationHistology and histopathology · 2009

Study typein_vitro

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Common concern about the biological effects of electromagnetic fields (EMF) is increasing with the expansion of X-band microwaves (MW). The purpose of our work was to determine whether exposure to MW pulses in this range can induce toxic effects on human astrocytoma cells. Cultured astrocytoma cells (Clonetics line 1321N1) were submitted to 9.6 GHz carrier, 90% amplitude modulated by extremely low frequency (ELF)-EMF pulses inside a Gigahertz Transversal Electromagnetic Mode cell (GTEM-cell). Astrocytoma cultures were maintained inside a GTEM-incubator in standard culture conditions at 37+/-0.1 degrees C, 5% CO2, in a humidified atmosphere. Two experimental conditions were applied with field parameters respectively of: PW 100-120 ns; PRF 100-800 Hz; PRI 10-1.25 ms; power 0.34-0.60 mW; electric field strength 1.25-1.64 V/m; magnetic field peak amplitude 41.4-54.6 microOe. SAR was calculated to be 4.0 x 10-4 W/Kg. Astrocytoma samples were grown in a standard incubator. Reaching 70-80% confluence, cells were transferred to a GTEM-incubator. Experimental procedure included exposed human astrocytoma cells to MW for 15, 30, 60 min and 24 h and unexposed sham-control samples. Double blind method was applied. Our results showed that cytoskeleton proteins, cell morphology and viability were not modified. Statistically significant results showed increased cell proliferation rate under 24h MW exposure. Hsp-70 and Bcl-2 antiapoptotic proteins were observed in control and treated samples, while an increased expression of connexin 43 proteins was found in exposed samples. The implication of these results on increased proliferation is the subject of our current research.

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

PopulationCultured human astrocytoma cells (Clonetics line 1321N1)

Sample sizeNot supplied

Exposuremicrowave · 9600 MHz · 0.0004 W/kg · 15, 30, 60 min and 24 h

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Exposure to 9.6 GHz microwaves (90% amplitude modulated by ELF-EMF pulses) did not modify cytoskeleton proteins, cell morphology, or viability. A statistically significant increase in cell proliferation rate was observed after 24 h exposure, and increased connexin 43 expression was found in exposed samples; Hsp-70 and Bcl-2 were observed in both control and treated samples.

Outcomes measured

Cell proliferation rate
Cytoskeleton proteins
Cell morphology
Cell viability
Hsp-70 expression
Bcl-2 expression
Connexin 43 expression

Limitations

In vitro cell line model (human astrocytoma 1321N1); relevance to in vivo human health not addressed in abstract
Sample size not reported in abstract
Only limited endpoints and exposure durations reported in abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "in_vitro",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "microwave",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": 9600,
    "sar_wkg": 0.0004,
    "duration": "15, 30, 60 min and 24 h"
  },
  "population": "Cultured human astrocytoma cells (Clonetics line 1321N1)",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Cell proliferation rate",
    "Cytoskeleton proteins",
    "Cell morphology",
    "Cell viability",
    "Hsp-70 expression",
    "Bcl-2 expression",
    "Connexin 43 expression"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Exposure to 9.6 GHz microwaves (90% amplitude modulated by ELF-EMF pulses) did not modify cytoskeleton proteins, cell morphology, or viability. A statistically significant increase in cell proliferation rate was observed after 24 h exposure, and increased connexin 43 expression was found in exposed samples; Hsp-70 and Bcl-2 were observed in both control and treated samples.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "In vitro cell line model (human astrocytoma 1321N1); relevance to in vivo human health not addressed in abstract",
    "Sample size not reported in abstract",
    "Only limited endpoints and exposure durations reported in abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "ELF pulse modulation",
    "X-band microwaves",
    "9.6 GHz",
    "GTEM cell",
    "SAR",
    "astrocytoma",
    "cell proliferation",
    "connexin 43",
    "Hsp-70",
    "Bcl-2"
  ],
  "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: 10.14670/hh-24.1551
PubMed: 19795354

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