title: The effects of radio-frequency electromagnetic fields on T cell function during development.
abstract: With the widespread use of radio-frequency devices, it is increasingly important to understand the biological effects of the associated electromagnetic fields. Thus, we investigated the effects of radio-frequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) on T cell responses during development due to the lack of science-based evidence for RF-EMF effects on developmental immune systems. Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were exposed to 2.14-GHz wideband code division multiple-access (W-CDMA) RF signals at a whole-body specific absorption rate (SAR) of 0.2 W/kg. Exposures were performed for a total of 9 weeks spanning in utero development, lactation and the juvenile period. Rats were continuously exposed to RF-EMF for 20 h/day, 7 days/week. Comparisons of control and exposed rats using flow cytometry revealed no changes in the numbers of CD4/CD8 T cells, activated T cells or regulatory T cells among peripheral blood cells, splenocytes and thymocytes. Expression levels of 16 genes that regulate the immunological Th1/Th2 paradigm were analyzed using real-time PCR in the spleen and thymus tissues of control and RF-EMF-exposed rats. Although only the Il5 gene was significantly regulated in spleen tissues, Il4, Il5 and Il23a genes were significantly upregulated in thymus tissues following exposure to RF-EMF. However, ELISAs showed no changes in serum IL-4 protein concentrations. These data indicate no adverse effects of long-term RF-EMF exposure on immune-like T cell populations, T cell activation, or Th1/Th2 balance in developing rats, although significant transcriptional effects were observed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hygienic Chemistry, Meiji Pharmaceutical University, 2-522-1 Noshio, Kiyose, Tokyo, 204-8588, Japan.
authors.forename: Shin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ohtani
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health, National Institute of Public Health, 2-3-6 Minami, Wako, Saitama, 351-0197, Japan ushiyama@niph.go.jp.
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ushiyama
authors.affiliation: Department of Hygienic Chemistry, Meiji Pharmaceutical University, 2-522-1 Noshio, Kiyose, Tokyo, 204-8588, Japan.
authors.forename: Machiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maeda
authors.affiliation: Department of Hygienic Chemistry, Meiji Pharmaceutical University, 2-522-1 Noshio, Kiyose, Tokyo, 204-8588, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ogasawara
authors.affiliation: Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Nagoya Institute of Technology, Gokiso-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 466-8555, Japan.
authors.forename: Jianqing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health, National Institute of Public Health, 2-3-6 Minami, Wako, Saitama, 351-0197, Japan.
authors.forename: Naoki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kunugita
authors.affiliation: Department of Hygienic Chemistry, Meiji Pharmaceutical University, 2-522-1 Noshio, Kiyose, Tokyo, 204-8588, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuyuki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ishii
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology*; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000276:immunology / Q000528:radiation effects; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011846:Radio Waves; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D014916:Whole-Body Irradiation
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines
keywords: RF-EMF exposure in vivo; T cell subset analyses; Th1/Th2 balance; developmental stage
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