Exposure to cell phone radiation up-regulates apoptosis genes in primary cultures of neurons and astrocytes.
The health effects of cell phone radiation exposure are a growing public concern. This study investigated whether expression of genes related to cell death pathways are dysregulated in primary cultured neurons and astrocytes by exposure to a working Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) cell phone rated at a frequency of 1900MHz. Primary cultures were exposed to cell phone emissions for 2h. We used array analysis and real-time RT-PCR to show up-regulation of caspase-2, caspase-6 and Asc (apoptosis associated speck-like protein containing a card) gene expression in neurons and astrocytes. Up-regulation occurred in both "on" and "stand-by" modes in neurons, but only in "on" mode in astrocytes. Additionally, astrocytes showed up-regulation of the Bax gene. The effects are specific since up-regulation was not seen for other genes associated with apoptosis, such as caspase-9 in either neurons or astrocytes, or Bax in neurons. The results show that even relatively short-term exposure to cell phone radiofrequency emissions can up-regulate elements of apoptotic pathways in cells derived from the brain, and that neurons appear to be more sensitive to this effect than astrocytes.
Zhao
Tian-Yong
TY
Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, 800 Rose St., University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536-0298, USA.
Zou
Shi-Ping
SP
Knapp
Pamela E
PE
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000528:radiation effects*; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000528:radiation effects*; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology; D020169:Caspases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D040421:Cell Phone; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D005260:Female; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011827:Radiation; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D047988:Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor-Associated Peptides and Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000528:radiation effects*
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D047988:Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor-Associated Peptides and Proteins; D020169:Caspases