Study type: Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Analysis of the cellular stress response in MCF10A cells exposed to combined radio frequency radiation med./bio.

Published in: J Radiat Res 2012; 53 (2): 176-183

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To analyse the cellular stress response in human breast epithelial cells exposed to combined radiofrequency irradiation.

Background/further details

First, an experimentwas conducted to find the most sensitive markers of cellular stress. Therefore, cells were stressed either by heat shock (39 °C, 41 °C or 43 °C) or ionizing radiation (0,2 oder 1 Gy). Analysis by Western Blot showed that the phosphorylated forms of the proteins Hsp27 and ERK1/2 were the most sensitive markers. Hence, these proteins were taken for further analysis.
For the main experiment four experimental groups were analysed:
1.) control group in incubator
2.) sham exposed
3.) exposure at 837 MHz (4 W/kg)
4.) exposure simultaneously at 837 MHz and 1950 MHz (each 2 W/kg, in total 4 W/kg). <brThe cells were exposed either four hours one day or two hours on three consecutive days. As a positive control MCF7 human breast carcinoma cells were incubated for 1 h at 43 °C and analysed afterwards.

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure Parameters
Exposure 1: 837 MHz
Exposure duration: continuous for 4 h once or 2 h/day on 3 days
Exposure 2: 837–1,950 MHz
Exposure duration: continuous for 4 h once or 2 h/day on 3 days

Exposure 1

Main characteristics
Frequency 837 MHz
Type
Exposure duration continuous for 4 h once or 2 h/day on 3 days
Modulation
Modulation type cf. additional info
Additional info

CDMA

Exposure setup
Exposure source
Setup 100 mm Petri dish containing the cells placed besides the conical antenna inside the Radial Transmission Line
Sham exposure A sham exposure was conducted.
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
SAR 4 W/kg - - - -

Exposure 2

Main characteristics
Frequency 837–1,950 MHz
Type
Exposure duration continuous for 4 h once or 2 h/day on 3 days
Modulation
Modulation type cf. additional info
Additional info

CDMA and W-CDMA

Exposure setup
Exposure source
Sham exposure A sham exposure was conducted.
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
SAR 4 W/kg - - - total
SAR 2 W/kg - - - each for CDMA and W-CDMA

Reference articles

  • Lee KY et al. (2011): Effects of combined radiofrequency radiation exposure on the cell cycle and its regulatory proteins
  • Pickard WF et al. (2000): Experimental and numerical determination of SAR distributions within culture flasks in a dielectric loaded radial transmission line
  • Moros EG et al. (1999): The radial transmission line as a broad-band shielded exposure system for microwave irradiation of large numbers of culture flasks

Exposed system:

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

Investigated system:
Time of investigation:
  • after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

Single or combined radiofrequency field exposure did not induce phosphorylation of ERK1/2 or Hsp27 in MCF10A cells. Additionally, the levels of ERK1/2 and Hsp27 remained unaltered. The same results were obtained inconsiderably whether the cells were exposed one time for four hours or two hours on three consecutive days.
These results suggest that exposure to neither single (836.5 MHz) nor combined (836.5 MHz and 1950 MHz) radiofrequency field irradiation stimulates a stress response in MCF10A cells under the examined conditions.

Study character:

Study funded by

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