Application of intracellular microelectrophoresis to analysis of the influence of the low-level microwave radiation on electrokinetic properties of nuclei in human epithelial cells.

Electrophoresis · 2002 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 6387

Study snapshot

PublicationElectrophoresis · 2002

Study typeother

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Intracellular microelectrophoresis was applied to investigate the electrokinetic properties of human buccal epithelium cell nuclei after exposure of cells to microwaves of wavelengths of 8 mm (f = 37.5 GHz) and 16 mm (f = 18.75 GHz) at a surface power density of 0.2 mW/cm(2). Irradiated or nonirradiated cells were suspended in a flat microelectrophoretic chamber and exposed to an electric field of 15 V/cm at a current flow of 0.1 mA. The cells, whose nuclei altered their intracellular location towards the anode of the externally applied electric field, were considered to have negatively charged nuclei. The percentage of cells with electrophoretically movable nuclei was determined as the value of electronegativity of cell nuclei (ENN). Microwaves induced changes of ENN during irradiation of 15-60 s. If cells of a donor had an elevated initial level of ENN, it decreased during irradiation. On the contrary, if cells of another donor had a low initial ENN level, irradiation induced ENN increase. No significant difference between the action of microwaves of wavelengths of 8 mm and 16 mm was found. However, microwave irradiation caused an increase in membrane permeability for the in vivo dye indigo Carmine in cells of all donors irrespectively of the initial levels they showed. This suggests that electrokinetic properties of nuclei in cells do not only depend on cell membrane permeability.

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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 typeother

Effect directionmixed

PopulationHuman buccal epithelium cells (donors)

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposuremmWave · 37500 MHz · 15–60 s

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Exposure to microwaves at 37.5 GHz (8 mm) or 18.75 GHz (16 mm) at 0.2 mW/cm^2 induced changes in ENN during 15–60 s irradiation; ENN decreased in donors with elevated baseline ENN and increased in donors with low baseline ENN. No significant difference was found between 8 mm and 16 mm exposures. Microwave irradiation increased membrane permeability to indigo Carmine in cells of all donors regardless of initial ENN.

Outcomes measured

Electronegativity of cell nuclei (ENN) / electrophoretic mobility of nuclei
Cell membrane permeability (indigo Carmine dye uptake)

Limitations

Sample size and number of donors not reported in the abstract
In vitro/ex vivo cell preparation; generalizability to in vivo human exposure is unclear
Short exposure duration (seconds) only
Outcome measures are specialized (ENN, dye permeability) and clinical relevance is not established in the abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "other",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "mmWave",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": 37500,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "15–60 s"
  },
  "population": "Human buccal epithelium cells (donors)",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Electronegativity of cell nuclei (ENN) / electrophoretic mobility of nuclei",
    "Cell membrane permeability (indigo Carmine dye uptake)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Exposure to microwaves at 37.5 GHz (8 mm) or 18.75 GHz (16 mm) at 0.2 mW/cm^2 induced changes in ENN during 15–60 s irradiation; ENN decreased in donors with elevated baseline ENN and increased in donors with low baseline ENN. No significant difference was found between 8 mm and 16 mm exposures. Microwave irradiation increased membrane permeability to indigo Carmine in cells of all donors regardless of initial ENN.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Sample size and number of donors not reported in the abstract",
    "In vitro/ex vivo cell preparation; generalizability to in vivo human exposure is unclear",
    "Short exposure duration (seconds) only",
    "Outcome measures are specialized (ENN, dye permeability) and clinical relevance is not established in the abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "intracellular microelectrophoresis",
    "human buccal epithelium",
    "cell nuclei",
    "electrokinetic properties",
    "electronegativity of nuclei (ENN)",
    "membrane permeability",
    "indigo Carmine",
    "microwave radiation",
    "millimeter waves",
    "37.5 GHz",
    "18.75 GHz",
    "0.2 mW/cm2"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "5g-policy",
      "weight": 0.35,
      "reason": "Uses millimeter-wave frequencies (18.75–37.5 GHz), relevant to discussions of higher-frequency RF exposure though not explicitly 5G."
    }
  ]
}

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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: 10.1002/1522-2683(200207)23:13<2074::aid-elps2074>3.0.co;2-a
PubMed: 12210261

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