title: Exposure to 1950-MHz TD-SCDMA electromagnetic fields affects the apoptosis of astrocytes via caspase-3-dependent pathway.
abstract: The usage of mobile phone increases globally. However, there is still a paucity of data about the impact of electromagnetic fields (EMF) on human health. This study investigated whether EMF radiation would alter the biology of glial cells and act as a tumor-promoting agent. We exposed rat astrocytes and C6 glioma cells to 1950-MHz TD-SCDMA for 12, 24 and 48 h respectively, and found that EMF exposure had differential effects on rat astroctyes and C6 glioma cells. A 48 h of exposure damaged the mitochondria and induced significant apoptosis of astrocytes. Moreover, caspase-3, a hallmark of apoptosis, was highlighted in astrocytes after 48 h of EMF exposure, accompanied by a significantly increased expression of bax and reduced level of bcl-2. The tumorigenicity assays demonstrated that astrocytes did not form tumors in both control and exposure groups. In contrast, the unexposed and exposed C6 glioma cells show no significant differences in both biological feature and tumor formation ability. Therefore, our results implied that exposure to the EMF of 1950-MHz TD-SCDMA may not promote the tumor formation, but continuous exposure damaged the mitochondria of astrocytes and induce apoptosis through a caspase-3-dependent pathway with the involvement of bax and bcl-2.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Yu-xiao
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jun-li
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Tai
authors.forename: Guo-qing
authors.initials: GQ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Zhi-wen
authors.initials: ZW
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jing-hui
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.forename: Hong-sheng
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Heng
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Ji-de
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Yuan-Ling
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: An-ming
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D051381:Rats; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C494827:Bax protein, mouse; C494828:Bax protein, rat; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; C505409:Casp3 protein, mouse; C505410:Casp3 protein, rat; D053148:Caspase 3