Gene expression changes in human cells after exposure to mobile phone microwaves.
Possible biological effects of mobile phone microwaves were investigated in vitro. In this study, which was part of the 5FP EU project REFLEX (Risk Evaluation of Potential Environmental Hazards From Low-Energy Electromagnetic Field Exposure Using Sensitive in vitro Methods), six human cell types, immortalized cell lines and primary cells, were exposed to 900 and 1800 MHz. RNA was isolated from exposed and sham-exposed cells and labeled for transcriptome analysis on whole-genome cDNA arrays. The results were evaluated statistically using bioinformatics techniques and examined for biological relevance with the help of different databases. NB69 neuroblastoma cells, T lymphocytes, and CHME5 microglial cells did not show significant changes in gene expression. In EA.hy926 endothelial cells, U937 lymphoblastoma cells, and HL-60 leukemia cells we found between 12 and 34 up- or down-regulated genes. Analysis of the affected gene families does not point towards a stress response. However, following microwave exposure, some but not all human cells might react with an increase in expression of genes encoding ribosomal proteins and therefore up-regulating the cellular metabolism.
Remondini
Daniel
D
University of Bologna, Department of Physics, Bologna, Italy.
Nylund
Reetta
R
Reivinen
Jukka
J
Poulletier de Gannes
Florence
F
Veyret
Bernard
B
Lagroye
Isabelle
I
Haro
Emmanuelle
E
Trillo
M Angeles
MA
Capri
Miriam
M
Franceschi
Claudio
C
Schlatterer
Kathrin
K
Gminski
Richard
R
Fitzner
Rudolf
R
Tauber
Rudolf
R
Schuderer
Jurgen
J
Kuster
Niels
N
Leszczynski
Dariusz
D
Bersani
Ferdinando
F
Maercker
Christian
C
D002460:Cell Line; D040421:Cell Phone; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000528:radiation effects*; D006801:Humans; D008872:Microwaves; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000528:radiation effects*