title: In vitro exposure of human lymphocytes to 900 MHz CW and GSM modulated radiofrequency: studies of proliferation, apoptosis and mitochondrial membrane potential.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the nonthermal effects of radiofrequency (RF) fields on human immune cells exposed to a Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) signal generated by a commercial cellular phone and by a sinusoidal non-modulated signal. To assess whether mobile phone RF-field exposure affects human immune cell functions, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from healthy donors were exposed in vitro to a 900 MHz GSM or continuous-wave (CW) RF field 1 h/day for 3 days in a transverse electromagnetic mode (TEM) cell system (70-76 mW/kg average specific absorption rate, SAR). The cells were cultured for 48 or 72 h, and the following end points were studied: (1) mitogen-induced proliferation; (2) cell cycle progression; (3) spontaneous and 2-deoxy-D-ribose (dRib)-induced apoptosis; (4) mitochondrial membrane potential modifications during spontaneous and dRib-induced-apoptosis. Data obtained from cells exposed to a GSM-modulated RF field showed a slight decrease in cell proliferation when PBMCs were stimulated with the lowest mitogen concentration and a slight increase in the number of cells with altered distribution of phosphatidylserine across the membrane. On the other hand, cell cycle phases, mitochondrial membrane potential and susceptibility to apoptosis were found to be unaffected by the RF field. When cells were exposed to a CW RF field, no significant modifications were observed in comparison with sham-exposed cells for all the end points investigated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Pathology, Section of Immunology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy. miriam@alma.unibo.it
authors.forename: Miriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Capri
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Scarcella
authors.forename: Cristiana
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fumelli
authors.forename: Enrica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bianchi
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Salvioli
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mesirca
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Agostini
authors.forename: Almerino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Antolini
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schiavoni
authors.forename: Gastone
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Castellani
authors.forename: Ferdinando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bersani
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Franceschi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000528:radiation effects*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000528:radiation effects*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects*