Transcriptional landscape of human keratinocyte models exposed to 60-GHz millimeter-waves
Purpose: The use of millimeter waves (MMW) will likely grow exponentially in the coming years due to their future utilization in high-speed telecommunications. The question of the possible biological effects of these frequencies has been raised, and in the present study, we aimed to explore, throw an innovating RNA sequencing approach known as Bulk RNA Barcoding sequencing (BRB-seq), the difference in gene expression under exposure. Methods: Tree main exposure scenario were explored. The first one aim to compare the cellular response of two primary culture of keratinocytes (HEK and NHEK) and one keratinocyte derivate cell line (HaCaT) exposed to MMW. The second scenario explore the dose effect of gradient of incident power density on gene expression in cell line. The last one explore the exposure time at the new exposure limit for the general population. Results: Our data shows that gene expression is quite different between the cellular models used, which validates the method used. However, the exposure scenarios demonstrates that the main effect was the heat effect associated with high power MMW. Some genes were also altered by exposure. Altered expression of 2 genes was confirmed with qRT–PCR. Conclusions: These results show that acute exposure to MMW has low effect on gene expression. Overall design: HEK_3N, NHEK and HaCat cells were exposed 3 hours to 20 mW/cm² or equivalent Heat effect or Sham exposed. For HaCat cell gradient exposure between 0 and 20 mW/cm² was evaluated and long term treatment 14h at 10 MW/cm².