RF Safe

Effects of 1800 MHz RF-EMF exposure on DNA damage and cellular functions in primary cultured neurogenic cells.

International journal of radiation biology · 2018 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 5557

At 4.0 W/kg SAR, 1800 MHz RF-EMF exposure did not significantly induce γH2AX foci formation in astrocytes, microglia, or cortical neurons, and did not significantly affect cytokine secretion or dendrite/synapse morphological indicators. Exposure significantly…

Study snapshot

PublicationInternational journal of radiation biology · 2018
Study typein_vitro
Reported directionMixed
Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

PURPOSE: To systematically evaluate the effects of 1800 MHz radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) exposure on DNA damage and cellular functions in primary cultured neurogenic cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The primary cultured astrocytes, microglia and cortical neurons were exposed to RF-EMF at a SAR of 4.0 W/kg. The DNA damage was evaluated by γH2AX foci formation assay. The secretions of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β) in astrocytes and microglia, microglial phagocytic activity and neuronal development were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, phagocytosis assay and immunofluorescent staining on microtubule-associated protein tau, microtubule-associated protein 2, postsynaptic density 95 and gephyrin, respectively. RESULTS: RF-EMF exposure did not significantly induce γH2AX foci formation in three primary cultured neurogenic cells. Furthermore, RF-EMF exposure did not significantly affect the secretion of cytokines in astrocytes and microglia, and the morphological indicators of dendrites or synapses of cortical neurons. However, the exposure significantly reduced the phagocytic activity of microglia and inhibited the axon branch length and branch number of cortical neurons. CONCLUSIONS: Our data demonstrated that exposure to RF-EMF did not elicit DNA damage but inhibited the phagocytic ability of microglia and the axon branch length and branch number of cortical neurons.

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
PopulationPrimary cultured astrocytes, microglia, and cortical neurons (primary cultured neurogenic cells)
Sample sizeNot supplied
ExposureRF · 1800 MHz · 4 W/kg
Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

At 4.0 W/kg SAR, 1800 MHz RF-EMF exposure did not significantly induce γH2AX foci formation in astrocytes, microglia, or cortical neurons, and did not significantly affect cytokine secretion or dendrite/synapse morphological indicators. Exposure significantly reduced microglial phagocytic activity and inhibited axon branch length and branch number in cortical neurons.

Outcomes measured

  • DNA damage (γH2AX foci formation)
  • Pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β) in astrocytes and microglia
  • Microglial phagocytic activity
  • Neuronal development/morphology indicators (dendrites/synapses; tau, MAP2, PSD95, gephyrin)
  • Axon branch length and branch number in cortical neurons

Limitations

  • Exposure duration not reported in abstract
  • Sample size not reported in abstract
  • In vitro primary cell culture model; generalizability to in vivo/humans not addressed in abstract
View raw extracted JSON
{
  "study_type": "in_vitro",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": 1800,
    "sar_wkg": 4,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": "Primary cultured astrocytes, microglia, and cortical neurons (primary cultured neurogenic cells)",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "DNA damage (γH2AX foci formation)",
    "Pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β) in astrocytes and microglia",
    "Microglial phagocytic activity",
    "Neuronal development/morphology indicators (dendrites/synapses; tau, MAP2, PSD95, gephyrin)",
    "Axon branch length and branch number in cortical neurons"
  ],
  "main_findings": "At 4.0 W/kg SAR, 1800 MHz RF-EMF exposure did not significantly induce γH2AX foci formation in astrocytes, microglia, or cortical neurons, and did not significantly affect cytokine secretion or dendrite/synapse morphological indicators. Exposure significantly reduced microglial phagocytic activity and inhibited axon branch length and branch number in cortical neurons.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Exposure duration not reported in abstract",
    "Sample size not reported in abstract",
    "In vitro primary cell culture model; generalizability to in vivo/humans not addressed in abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "1800 MHz",
    "RF-EMF",
    "SAR 4.0 W/kg",
    "primary cultured cells",
    "astrocytes",
    "microglia",
    "cortical neurons",
    "γH2AX",
    "DNA damage",
    "cytokines",
    "TNF-α",
    "IL-6",
    "IL-1β",
    "phagocytosis",
    "axon branching",
    "neuronal development"
  ],
  "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: 10.1080/09553002.2018.1432913
PubMed: 29368975

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