title: Anthropogenic Radio-Frequency Electromagnetic Fields Elicit Neuropathic Pain in an Amputation Model.
abstract: Anecdotal and clinical reports have suggested that radio-frequency electromagnetic fields (RF EMFs) may serve as a trigger for neuropathic pain. However, these reports have been widely disregarded, as the epidemiological effects of electromagnetic fields have not been systematically proven, and are highly controversial. Here, we demonstrate that anthropogenic RF EMFs elicit post-neurotomy pain in a tibial neuroma transposition model. Behavioral assays indicate a persistent and significant pain response to RF EMFs when compared to SHAM surgery groups. Laser thermometry revealed a transient skin temperature increase during stimulation. Furthermore, immunofluorescence revealed an increased expression of temperature sensitive cation channels (TRPV4) in the neuroma bulb, suggesting that RF EMF-induced pain may be due to cytokine-mediated channel dysregulation and hypersensitization, leading to thermal allodynia. Additional behavioral assays were performed using an infrared heating lamp in place of the RF stimulus. While thermally-induced pain responses were observed, the response frequency and progression did not recapitulate the RF EMF effects. In vitro calcium imaging experiments demonstrated that our RF EMF stimulus is sufficient to directly contribute to the depolarization of dissociated sensory neurons. Furthermore, the perfusion of inflammatory cytokine TNF-α resulted in a significantly higher percentage of active sensory neurons during RF EMF stimulation. These results substantiate patient reports of RF EMF-pain, in the case of peripheral nerve injury, while confirming the public and scientific consensus that anthropogenic RF EMFs engender no adverse sensory effects in the general population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioengineering, University of Texas at Dallas, 800 W. Campbell Road, Richardson, TX, 75080, United States of America.
authors.forename: Bryan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Black
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioengineering, University of Texas at Dallas, 800 W. Campbell Road, Richardson, TX, 75080, United States of America.
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Granja-Vazquez
authors.affiliation: Alpert Medical School, Brown University, 222 Richmond St., Providence, RI, 02903, United States of America.
authors.forename: Benjamin R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.affiliation: Department of Industrial, Manufacturing, and Systems Engineering, University of Texas at Arlington, 500 West 1st St., Arlington, TX, 76019, United States of America.
authors.forename: Erick
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioengineering, University of Texas at Dallas, 800 W. Campbell Road, Richardson, TX, 75080, United States of America.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Romero-Ortega
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D000671:Amputation, Surgical; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D020013:Calcium Signaling / Q000187:drug effects; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000209:etiology; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009463:Neuroma / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D011846:Radio Waves / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012881:Skin Temperature / Q000187:drug effects; D050916:TRPV Cation Channels / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D050916:TRPV Cation Channels; C486577:Trpv4 protein, rat; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha