Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Effects of exposure to 1.8 GHz radiofrequency field on the expression of Hsps and phosphorylation of MAPKs in human lens epithelial cells med./bio.

By: Yu Y, Yao K, Wu W, Wang K, Chen G, Lu D

Published in: Cell Res 2008; 18 (12): 1233-1235

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To study whether exposure to 1.8 GHz radiofrequency can influence the cellular physiology of the lens epithelial cells, the expression of heat shock proteins and the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases in these cells after exposure were evaluated.

Endpoint

molecular biosynthesis: protein expression of heat shock proteins
activation (phosphorylation) of mitogen-activated protein kinases

Exposure

- 1.8 GHz
- mobile communications
- digital mobile phone
- GSM

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 1.8 GHz Exposure duration: up to 2 h	SAR: 1 W/kg average over time (1, 2, 3, 4 W/kg)

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	1.8 GHz
Type	electromagnetic field
Exposure duration	up to 2 h

Exposure setup

Exposure source	not specified
Sham exposure	A sham exposure was conducted.

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
SAR	1 W/kg	average over time	-	-	1, 2, 3, 4 W/kg

Exposed system:

intact cell/cell culture
human lens epithelial cells (HLEC)

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

molecular biosynthesis: protein expression of heat shock proteins (Hsp90, Hsp70, Hsp27; Western blot)
activation (phosphorylation) of mitogen-activated protein kinases (ERK-1/2, JNK-1/2, p38 MAPK; Western blot)

Investigated system:

isolated bio./chem. substance
proteins

Time of investigation:

after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

1.8 GHz radiofrequency exposure induced the up-regulation of Hsp27 und Hsp70 when SAR value was equal or greater than 2 W/kg.
The data showed that ERK-1/2 was markedly activated as early as 5 minutes after radiofrequency exposure; the activation peaked at 30 minutes and lasted up to 2 h after exposure. Phosphorylation of JNK-1/2 was detected at 2 h after irradiation, while p38 MAPK activation was not found.
Phosphorylation of ERK-1/2 and JNK-1/2 together with Hsp up-regulation suggest that nonthermal radiofrequency exposure can induce the stress response in human lens epithelial cells.

Study character:

medical/biological study
experimental study
Letter to the Editor

Study funded by

National Natural Science Foundation (NSFC), China
Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation, China

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