title: Biological effects of in vitro THz radiation exposure in human foetal fibroblasts.
abstract: In recent years, terahertz (THz) radiation has been widely used in a variety of applications: medical, security, telecommunications and military areas. However, few data are available on the biological effects of this type of electromagnetic radiation and the reported results, using different genetic or cellular assays, are quite discordant. This multidisciplinary study focuses on potential genotoxic and cytotoxic effects, evaluated by several end-points, associated with THz radiation. For this purpose, in vitro exposure of human foetal fibroblasts to low frequency THz radiation (0.1-0.15THz) was performed using a Compact Free Electron Laser. We did not observe an induction of DNA damage evaluated by Comet assay, phosphorylation of H2AX histone or telomere length modulation. In addiction, no induction of apoptosis or changes in pro-survival signalling proteins were detected. Moreover, our results indicated an increase in the total number of micronuclei and centromere positive micronuclei induction evaluated by CREST analysis, indicating that THz radiation could induce aneugenic rather than clastogenic effects, probably leading to chromosome loss. Furthermore, an increase of actin polymerization observed by ultrastructural analysis after THz irradiation, supports the hypothesis that an abnormal assembly of spindle proteins could lead to the observed chromosomal malsegregation.
authors.affiliation: Army Medical and Veterinary Research Center, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: andre.deamicis@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Amicis
authors.affiliation: Army Medical and Veterinary Research Center, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefania De
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Sanctis
authors.affiliation: Army Medical and Veterinary Research Center, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Sara Di
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Cristofaro
authors.affiliation: Army Medical and Veterinary Research Center, Rome, Italy; University "Roma Tre" Department of Science, Viale G. Marconi 446, 00146 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Franchini
authors.affiliation: Army Medical and Veterinary Research Center, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Florigio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lista
authors.affiliation: Army Medical and Veterinary Research Center, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Regalbuto
authors.affiliation: ENEA, Radiation Sources Laboratory, Frascati Research Center, Italy.
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Giovenale
authors.affiliation: ENEA, Radiation Sources Laboratory, Frascati Research Center, Italy.
authors.forename: Gian Piero
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Gallerano
authors.affiliation: ENEA, Radiation Sources Laboratory, Frascati Research Center, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nenzi
authors.affiliation: University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bei
authors.affiliation: University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fantini
authors.affiliation: University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Benvenuto
authors.affiliation: University of Rome "Sapienza", Department of Experimental Medicine, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Masuelli
authors.affiliation: University "Roma Tre" Department of Science, Viale G. Marconi 446, 00146 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Coluzzi
authors.affiliation: University "Roma Tre" Department of Science, Viale G. Marconi 446, 00146 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cicia
authors.affiliation: University "Roma Tre" Department of Science, Viale G. Marconi 446, 00146 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sgura
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000782:Aneuploidy; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000528:radiation effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000528:radiation effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002503:Centromere / Q000235:genetics / Q000528:radiation effects*; D020090:Chromosome Segregation / Q000528:radiation effects*; D004249:DNA Damage; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects*; D052816:Foreskin / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology; D006657:Histones / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D048629:Micronuclei, Chromosome-Defective / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D055053:Terahertz Radiation
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; C468783:H2AX protein, human; D006657:Histones
keywords: Chromosomal malsegregation; DNA damage; Human foetal fibroblasts; Spindle disturbance; THz radiation