Effect of exposure to 1800 MHz RFR on epidermal growth factor, caspase-3, Hsp27 and p38MAPK gene expressions in the rat eye

PAPER manual 2018 Animal study Effect: harm Evidence: Low

Read original paper → DOI: 10.4149/bll_2018_106 Evidence Lab

Abstract

Effect of exposure to 1800 MHz RFR on epidermal growth factor, caspase-3, Hsp27 and p38MAPK gene expressions in the rat eye Eker ED, Arslan B, Yildirim M, Akar A, Aras N. The effect of exposure to 1800 MHz radiofrequency radiation on epidermal growth factor, caspase-3, Hsp27 and p38MAPK gene expressions in the rat eye. Bratisl Lek Listy. 2018;119(9):588-592. doi: 10.4149/BLL_2018_106. Abstract OBJECTIVE: Radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) may induce DNA damage and oxidative stress in human lens epithelial cells (LECs). We aimed to investigate the expression levels of heat shock protein 27 (Hsp27), p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and caspase-3 gene expression levels in rat eye that was exposed to 1800 MHz RF-EMF. METHODS: Thirty-seven female Wistar albino rats were divided into three groups. The rats in the study group (n = 9) were exposed to 1800 MHz RF-EMF at an electric field 6.8 ± 0.1 V/m and 0.06 W/kg specific absorption rate (SAR) for 2 hours per day for eight weeks. Sham group (n = 9) was kept under similar conditions as the exposed group without exposure to RF-EMF. The rats in all three groups were sacrificed and their eyes were removed. Hsp27, p38MAPK, EGFR, caspase-3 gene expression levels were investigated in detail with real-time polymerase chain reactions (Real-Time PCR). RESULTS: caspase-3 and p38MAPK gene expression were significantly upregulated in the ocular tissues following exposure to RF-EMF (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: According to our findings, eye cells recognize EMF as a stress factor, and in response, activate caspase-3 and p38MAPK gene expressions. These results confirm that RF-EMF can cause cellular damage in rat ocular cells (Tab. 2, Fig. 3, Ref. 37). Open access paper: bit.ly

AI evidence extraction

At a glance

Study type

Animal study

Effect direction

harm

Population

Female Wistar albino rats (rat eye/ocular tissues)

Sample size

Exposure

RF · 1800 MHz · 0.06 W/kg · 2 hours/day for 8 weeks

Evidence strength

Low

Confidence: 78% · Peer-reviewed: yes

Main findings

In ocular tissues, caspase-3 and p38MAPK gene expression were significantly upregulated after 1800 MHz RF-EMF exposure (p<0.05).

Outcomes measured

Hsp27 gene expression
p38MAPK gene expression
EGFR gene expression
caspase-3 gene expression

Limitations

Only female rats studied
Gene expression endpoints only; no functional/clinical eye outcomes reported in abstract
Exposure source/setup details not fully described in abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
    "study_type": "animal",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "RF",
        "source": null,
        "frequency_mhz": 1800,
        "sar_wkg": 0.059999999999999997779553950749686919152736663818359375,
        "duration": "2 hours/day for 8 weeks"
    },
    "population": "Female Wistar albino rats (rat eye/ocular tissues)",
    "sample_size": 37,
    "outcomes": [
        "Hsp27 gene expression",
        "p38MAPK gene expression",
        "EGFR gene expression",
        "caspase-3 gene expression"
    ],
    "main_findings": "In ocular tissues, caspase-3 and p38MAPK gene expression were significantly upregulated after 1800 MHz RF-EMF exposure (p<0.05).",
    "effect_direction": "harm",
    "limitations": [
        "Only female rats studied",
        "Gene expression endpoints only; no functional/clinical eye outcomes reported in abstract",
        "Exposure source/setup details not fully described in abstract"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7800000000000000266453525910037569701671600341796875,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "1800 MHz",
        "RF-EMF",
        "radiofrequency radiation",
        "rat eye",
        "ocular tissue",
        "caspase-3",
        "p38MAPK",
        "Hsp27",
        "EGFR",
        "gene expression",
        "SAR"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": []
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract/metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This content is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice.

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