Proto-Oncogene mRNA Levels and Activities of Multiple Transcription Factors in C3H 10T 1/2 Murine Embryonic Fibroblasts Exposed to 835.62 and 847.74 MHz Cellular Phone Communication Frequency Radiation

Abstract

This study was designed to determine whether two differently modulated radiofrequencies of the type generally used in cellular phone communications could elicit a general stress response in a biological system. The two modulations and frequencies studied were a frequency-modulated continuous wave (FMCW) with a carrier frequency of 835.62 MHz and a code division multiple-access (CDMA) modulation centered on 847.74 MHz. Changes in proto-oncogene expression, determined by measuring Fos, Jun, and Myc mRNA levels as well as by the DNA-binding activity of the AP1, AP2 and NF-kappaB transcription factors, were used as indicators of a general stress response. The effect of radiofrequency exposure on proto-oncogene expression was assessed (1) in exponentially growing C3H 10T 1/2 mouse embryo fibroblasts during their transition to plateau phase and (2) during transition of serum-deprived cells to the proliferation cycle after serum stimulation. Exposure of serum-deprived cells to 835.62 MHz FMCW or 847.74 MHz CDMA microwaves (at an average specific absorption rate, SAR, of 0.6 W/kg) did not significantly change the kinetics of proto-oncogene expression after serum stimulation. Similarly, these exposures did not affect either the Jun and Myc mRNA levels or the DNA-binding activity of AP1, AP2 and NF-kappaB in exponential cells during transit to plateau-phase growth. Therefore, these results suggest that the radiofrequency exposure is unlikely to elicit a general stress response in cells of this cell line under these conditions. However, statistically significant increases (approximately 2-fold, P = 0.001) in Fos mRNA levels were detected in exponential cells in transit to the plateau phase and in plateau-phase cells exposed to 835.62 MHz FMCW microwaves. For 847.74 MHz CDMA exposure, the increase was 1.4-fold (P = 0.04). This increase in Fos expression suggests that expression of specific genes could be affected by radiofrequency exposure.

Cytogenetic analysis of the effects of 2.5 and 10.5 GHz microwaves on human lymphocytes

“…However, despite this general conviction that microwaves are not sufficiently energetic to be able to directly damage DNA, there is considerable evidence indicating that microwaves can be directly and indirectly clastogenic, with a significant increase in chromosome damage (Sagripanti and Swicord, 1986;Garaj-Vrhovac et al, 1991, 1992Maes et al 1993;Haidler et al, 1994;Sarkar et al, 1994;Singh 1995, 1996;Timchenko and Ianchevskaia, 1995;Balode, 1996;Verschaeve et al, 1994;Vijayalaxmi et al, 1997;Phillips et al, 1998;Tice et al, 1999). In addition, cell phone radiation can alter protooncogene activity (Ivaschuk et al, 1997;Goswami et al, 1999). However, a similar number of studies have failed to detect obvious clastogenic effects following microwave irradiation of isolated animal cells in vitro (Alam et al, 1978;Lloyd et al, 1984Lloyd et al, , 1986Wolff et al, 1985;Meltz et al, 1987Meltz et al, , 1989Meltz et al, , 1990Kerbacher et al, 1990;Maes et al, 1997Maes et al, , 2001.…”

Bone morphogenetic protein expression in newborn rat kidneys after prenatal exposure to radiofrequency radiation

“…Results from, respectively, low intensity RFR (at the order of <1 W/kg) on experimental models in vivo are currently not available in the literature. Comparable studies on cells in culture have shown that nonthermal GSM-like RFR may induce increased c-fos expression [Goswami et al, 1999], without significantly interfering with cell proliferation [Higashikubo et al, 2001]. Our data on aberrant BMP related gene expression and localization in the rat newborn kidney provide evidence of persistent changes at the molecular level that can be ascribed to GSM-like RFR.…”

“…There are currently no data on the influence of GSM-like RFR on the regulation of gene expression during intrauterine rat development and any attempt for such interpretations would be speculative. Nevertheless, increased c-fos expression as a GSM-like RFR effect has been shown by two independent studies on different models, either transiently in vivo in the rat brain [Fritze et al, 1997], or in mouse fibroblasts in transit from the exponential to the plateau phase [Goswami et al, 1999]. The immediate early response gene c-fos, with c-jun as a heteromer, is important for the expression and autoregulation of BMP-4 during early organogenesis in Xenopus [Knochel et al, 2000].…”

“…These include gene expression alteration of heat shock proteins, such as hsp70 [Di Carlo et al, 2002] and hsp27/p38MAPK [Leszczynski et al, 2002], early response genes like c-fos [Fritze et al, 1997;Goswami et al, 1999], as well as neurotransmitter production, concentration and localization [Mausset et al, 2001;Testylier et al, 2002]. Based on the above, RFR specific effects were suggested to induce or promote the development of cancer and other diseases [French et al, 2001;Leszczynski et al, 2002], a hypothesis not proven for any type of cancer [Heikkinen et al, 2001;Bartsch et al, 2002] and not proven for the proliferation of glioma cells [Stagg et al, 1997;Higashikubo et al, 2001].…”

Influence of 864 MHz electromagnetic field on growth kinetics of established cell line

“…Otherwise, no effects have been obtained on cell cycle, enzyme activity, gene expression, DNA and chromosome damage (Dutta et al, 1992;Cleary et al 1996;Fritze et al, 1997;Malyapa et al, 1997;Pentafield et al, 1997;Goswami et al, 1999;Bisht et al, 2002;Zeni et al, 2003). A wide range of studies in vivo was also conducted.…”