Effect of mobile phone signal radiation on epigenetic modulation in the hippocampus of Wistar rat

Abstract

Effect of mobile phone signal radiation on epigenetic modulation in the hippocampus of Wistar rat Ranjeet Kumar, Pravin S Deshmukh, Sonal Sharma, Basu Dev Banerjee. Effect of mobile phone signal radiation on epigenetic modulation in the hippocampus of Wistar rat. Effect of mobile phone signal radiation on epigenetic modulation in the hippocampus of Wistar rat. Environ Res. 2020 Oct 6;110297. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.110297. Abstract Exponential increase in mobile phone uses, given rise to public concern regarding the alleged deleterious health hazards as a consequence of prolonged exposure. In 2018, the U.S. National toxicology program reported, two year toxicological studies for potential health hazards from exposure to cell phone radiations. Epigenetic modulations play a critical regulatory role in many cellular functions and pathological conditions. In this study, we assessed the dose-dependent and frequency-dependent epigenetic modulation (DNA and Histone methylation) in the hippocampus of Wistar rats. A Total of 96 male Wistar rats were segregated into 12 groups exposed to 900 MHz, 1800 MHz and 2450 MHz RF-MW at a specific absorption rate (SAR) of 5.84×10-4 W/kg, 5.94×10-4 W/kg and 6.4×10-4 W/kg respectively for 2 hours per day for 1-month, 3-month and 6-month periods. At the end of the exposure duration, animals were sacrificed to collect the hippocampus. Global hippocampal DNA methylation and histone methylation were estimated by ELISA. However, DNA methylating enzymes, DNA methyltransferase1 (DNMT1) and histone methylating enzymes euchromatic histone methylthransferase1 (EHMT1) expression was evaluated by real-time PCR, as well as further validated with western blot. Alteration in epigenetic modulation was observed in the hippocampus. Global DNA methylation was decreased and histone methylation was increased in the hippocampus. We observed that microwave exposure led to significant epigenetic modulations in the hippocampus with increasing frequency and duration of exposure. Microwave exposure with increasing frequency and exposure duration brings significant (p<0.05) epigenetic modulations which alters gene expression in the hippocampus. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

In exposed rats, global DNA methylation in the hippocampus decreased and histone methylation increased. The abstract reports significant epigenetic modulation with increasing frequency (900, 1800, 2450 MHz) and exposure duration (1, 3, 6 months) at p<0.05.

Outcomes measured

• Global hippocampal DNA methylation
• Global hippocampal histone methylation
• DNMT1 expression (mRNA and protein)
• EHMT1 expression (mRNA and protein)

Limitations

• No sham/control description provided in the abstract
• No quantitative effect sizes reported in the abstract
• Exposure described as RF-MW at multiple frequencies; results not broken down by frequency/duration group in the abstract

Suggested hubs

• mobile-phones (0.9)
  Exposure described as mobile phone signal radiation at 900/1800 MHz.

{
    "study_type": "animal",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "RF",
        "source": "mobile phone signal radiation",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": "2 hours/day for 1, 3, and 6 months"
    },
    "population": "Male Wistar rats",
    "sample_size": 96,
    "outcomes": [
        "Global hippocampal DNA methylation",
        "Global hippocampal histone methylation",
        "DNMT1 expression (mRNA and protein)",
        "EHMT1 expression (mRNA and protein)"
    ],
    "main_findings": "In exposed rats, global DNA methylation in the hippocampus decreased and histone methylation increased. The abstract reports significant epigenetic modulation with increasing frequency (900, 1800, 2450 MHz) and exposure duration (1, 3, 6 months) at p<0.05.",
    "effect_direction": "harm",
    "limitations": [
        "No sham/control description provided in the abstract",
        "No quantitative effect sizes reported in the abstract",
        "Exposure described as RF-MW at multiple frequencies; results not broken down by frequency/duration group in the abstract"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7800000000000000266453525910037569701671600341796875,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "mobile phone",
        "radiofrequency",
        "microwave",
        "900 MHz",
        "1800 MHz",
        "2450 MHz",
        "SAR",
        "hippocampus",
        "Wistar rat",
        "epigenetics",
        "DNA methylation",
        "histone methylation",
        "DNMT1",
        "EHMT1"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
        {
            "slug": "mobile-phones",
            "weight": 0.90000000000000002220446049250313080847263336181640625,
            "reason": "Exposure described as mobile phone signal radiation at 900/1800 MHz."
        }
    ]
}

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