title: Alteration of gene expression by exposure to a magnetic field at 23 kHz is not detected in astroglia cells.
abstract: The increasing use of induction heating (IH) cooktops has roused public concern in Japan and Europe regarding potential health effects. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of exposure to a magnetic field at 23 kHz (which is the maximum output power frequency of most IH cooktops) on gene expression in a human-fetus-derived astroglia cell line, SVGp12. The cells were exposed to the magnetic field at 2 mTrms [which is approximately 74 times higher than the reference level in the most recent International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) guidelines], for 2, 4 and 6 h, using a previously reported exposure system. Gene expression was evaluated using an Agilent cDNA microarray. We did not detect any significant effects of the magnetic field on the gene expression profile. On the contrary, heat treatment at 43°C for 2 h used as a positive control significantly affected gene expression, including inducing heat shock proteins, which indicated that our protocol for microarray analysis was appropriate. From these results, we conclude that exposure of human-fetus-derived astroglia cells to an intermediate-frequency magnetic field at 23 kHz and 2 mTrms for up to 6 h does not induce detectable alteration of gene expression.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Applied Radio Engineering for Humanosphere, Research Institute for Sustainable Humanosphere, Kyoto University, Gokasho, Uji, Kyoto, 611-0011, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomonori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sakurai
authors.forename: Eijiro
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Narita
authors.forename: Naoki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shinohara
authors.forename: Junji
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Miyakoshi
mesh_terms: D001253:Astrocytes / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D002460:Cell Line; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D060526:Magnetic Fields; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D011829:Radiation Dosage
chemical_list: D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins
keywords: International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) guidelines; cDNA microarray; human-derived cells; induction heating (IH) cooktop; intermediate-frequency (IF) magnetic field