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Mobile phone electromagnetic radiation activates MAPK signaling and regulates viability in Drosophila.

Bioelectromagnetics · 2008 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 5025

In Drosophila exposed to an 835 MHz mobile phone EMF, viability remained >90% after 30 h at SAR 1.6 W/kg, while at SAR 4.0 W/kg viability decreased beginning at 12 h. Exposures increased stress response and ROS production and activated ERK and JNK (but not p3…

Study snapshot

PublicationBioelectromagnetics · 2008
Study typeanimal
Reported directionMixed
Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Mobile phones are widely used in the modern world. However, biological effects of electromagnetic radiation produced by mobile phones are largely unknown. In this report, we show biological effects of the mobile phone 835 MHz electromagnetic field (EMF) in the Drosophila model system. When flies were exposed to the specific absorption rate (SAR) 1.6 W/kg, which is the proposed exposure limit by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), more than 90% of the flies were viable even after the 30 h exposure. However, in the SAR 4.0 W/kg strong EMF exposure, viability dropped from the 12 h exposure. These EMF exposures triggered stress response and increased the production of reactive oxygen species. The EMF exposures also activated extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling, but not p38 kinase signaling. Interestingly, SAR 1.6 W/kg activated mainly ERK signaling and expression of an anti-apoptotic gene, whereas SAR 4.0 W/kg strongly activated JNK signaling and expression of apoptotic genes. In addition, SAR 4.0 W/kg amplified the number of apoptotic cells in the fly brain. These findings demonstrate that the exposure limit on electromagnetic radiation proposed by ANSI triggered ERK-survival signaling but the strong electromagnetic radiation activated JNK-apoptotic signaling in Drosophila.

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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 typeanimal
Effect directionmixed
PopulationDrosophila (flies)
Sample sizeNot supplied
ExposureRF · 835 MHz · up to 30 h (effects noted from 12 h at SAR 4.0 W/kg)
Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

In Drosophila exposed to an 835 MHz mobile phone EMF, viability remained >90% after 30 h at SAR 1.6 W/kg, while at SAR 4.0 W/kg viability decreased beginning at 12 h. Exposures increased stress response and ROS production and activated ERK and JNK (but not p38); SAR 1.6 W/kg mainly activated ERK and an anti-apoptotic gene, whereas SAR 4.0 W/kg strongly activated JNK, apoptotic gene expression, and increased apoptotic cells in the fly brain.

Outcomes measured

  • viability
  • stress response
  • reactive oxygen species (ROS) production
  • ERK signaling activation
  • JNK signaling activation
  • p38 kinase signaling
  • anti-apoptotic gene expression
  • apoptotic gene expression
  • apoptotic cells in fly brain
View raw extracted JSON
{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile phone",
    "frequency_mhz": 835,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "up to 30 h (effects noted from 12 h at SAR 4.0 W/kg)"
  },
  "population": "Drosophila (flies)",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "viability",
    "stress response",
    "reactive oxygen species (ROS) production",
    "ERK signaling activation",
    "JNK signaling activation",
    "p38 kinase signaling",
    "anti-apoptotic gene expression",
    "apoptotic gene expression",
    "apoptotic cells in fly brain"
  ],
  "main_findings": "In Drosophila exposed to an 835 MHz mobile phone EMF, viability remained >90% after 30 h at SAR 1.6 W/kg, while at SAR 4.0 W/kg viability decreased beginning at 12 h. Exposures increased stress response and ROS production and activated ERK and JNK (but not p38); SAR 1.6 W/kg mainly activated ERK and an anti-apoptotic gene, whereas SAR 4.0 W/kg strongly activated JNK, apoptotic gene expression, and increased apoptotic cells in the fly brain.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "mobile phone",
    "electromagnetic field",
    "RF",
    "835 MHz",
    "SAR",
    "Drosophila",
    "viability",
    "MAPK",
    "ERK",
    "JNK",
    "oxidative stress",
    "reactive oxygen species",
    "apoptosis"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "mobile-phones",
      "weight": 0.9,
      "reason": "Study tests biological effects of mobile phone EMF at 835 MHz with SAR-defined exposures."
    }
  ]
}
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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: 10.1002/bem.20395
PubMed: 18286519

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