5G-exposed human skin cells do not respond with altered gene expression and methylation profiles [RNA-Seq]
Due to the ever-increasing wirelessly transmitted data, the development of new transmission standards and higher frequencies in the 5G band is required. Despite basic biophysical considerations that argue against health effects, there is public concern about this technology. Because the skin penetration depth at these frequencies is only 1 millimeter or less, we exposed fibroblasts and keratinocytes to electromagnetic fields up to ten times the permissible limits, for 2 and 48 hours in a fully blinded experimental design. Sham-exposed cells served as negative, and UV-exposed cells as positive controls. Differences in gene expression and methylation due to exposure were small and not higher than expected by chance. These data strongly support the assessment that there is no evidence for exposure-induced damage to human skin cells. Overall design: Strictly blinded, temperature-controlled transcriptomics and methylation study in human keratinocytes (HaCaT) and human dermal fibroblasts (HDF) exposed to 5G electromagnetic fields at different frequencies (27 GHz and 40.5 GHz), power flux densities (1 mW/cm2 and 10 mW/cm2) and exposure times (2h and 48h). There are total 96 samples, with 3 technical replicates per experiment for exposed as well as sham-exposed cells. Additionally, 24 samples (12 HaCat, 12 HDF) were considered for UV, and 5G exposure without temperature compensation treatment, respectively. Differential RNA expression analysis and differential DNA methylation analysis were performed on exposure category variable (exposed/sham) for each treatment combination.