The Protective Effects of EMF-LTE against DNA Double-Strand Break Damage In Vitro and In Vivo

Abstract

The Protective Effects of EMF-LTE against DNA Double-Strand Break Damage In Vitro and In Vivo Hee Jin, Kyuri Kim, Ga-Young Park, Minjeong Kim, Hae-June Lee, Sangbong Jeon, Ju Hwan Kim, Hak Rim Kim, Kyung-Min Lim, Yun-Sil Lee. 2021. The Protective Effects of EMF-LTE against DNA Double-Strand Break Damage In Vitro and In Vivo. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 22, 10: 5134. doi: 10.3390/ijms22105134. Abstract With the rapid growth of the wireless communication industry, humans are extensively exposed to electromagnetic fields (EMF) comprised of radiofrequency (RF). The skin is considered the primary target of EMFs given its outermost location. Recent evidence suggests that extremely low frequency (ELF)-EMF can improve the efficacy of DNA repair in human cell-lines. However, the effects of EMF-RF on DNA damage remain unknown. Here, we investigated the impact of EMF-long term evolution (LTE, 1.762 GHz, 8 W/kg) irradiation on DNA double-strand break (DSB) using the murine melanoma cell line B16 and the human keratinocyte cell line HaCaT. EMF-LTE exposure alone did not affect cell viability or induce apoptosis or necrosis. In addition, DNA DSB damage, as determined by the neutral comet assay, was not induced by EMF-LTE irradiation. Of note, EMF-LTE exposure can attenuate the DNA DSB damage induced by physical and chemical DNA damaging agents (such as ionizing radiation (IR, 10 Gy) in HaCaT and B16 cells and bleomycin (BLM, 3 μM) in HaCaT cells and a human melanoma cell line MNT-1), suggesting that EMF-LTE promotes the repair of DNA DSB damage. The protective effect of EMF-LTE against DNA damage was further confirmed by attenuation of the DNA damage marker γ- H2AX after exposure to EMF-LTE in HaCaT and B16 cells. Most importantly, irradiation of EMF-LTE (1.76 GHz, 6 W/kg, 8 h/day) on mice in vivo for 4 weeks reduced the γ-H2AX level in the skin tissue, further supporting the protective effects of EMF-LTE against DNA DSB damage. Furthermore, p53, the master tumor-suppressor gene, was commonly upregulated by EMF-LTE irradiation in B16 and HaCaT cells. This finding suggests that p53 plays a role in the protective effect of EMF-LTE against DNA DSBs. Collectively, these results demonstrated that EMF-LTE might have a protective effect against DNA DSB damage in the skin, although further studies are necessary to understand its impact on human health. Open access paper: mdpi.com

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

EMF-LTE exposure alone did not affect cell viability, apoptosis/necrosis, or induce DNA double-strand breaks in B16 and HaCaT cells. EMF-LTE attenuated DNA DSB damage induced by ionizing radiation or bleomycin in vitro and reduced γ-H2AX levels in mouse skin after 4 weeks of exposure; p53 was upregulated in B16 and HaCaT cells.

Outcomes measured

• Cell viability
• Apoptosis/necrosis
• DNA double-strand breaks (neutral comet assay)
• γ-H2AX (DNA damage marker)
• p53 expression

Limitations

• Sample size not reported in abstract
• Exposure duration for in vitro experiments not specified in abstract
• Findings are from cell lines and mice; human health impact not established
• Mechanistic role of p53 suggested but not established in abstract

Suggested hubs

• rf-dna-damage (0.9)
  Assesses RF-LTE exposure effects on DNA double-strand breaks and γ-H2AX in vitro and in vivo.

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    "study_type": "animal",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "RF",
        "source": "LTE",
        "frequency_mhz": 1762,
        "sar_wkg": 8,
        "duration": "in vitro exposure (duration not stated); in vivo: 8 h/day for 4 weeks (6 W/kg)"
    },
    "population": "Cell lines (murine melanoma B16; human keratinocyte HaCaT; human melanoma MNT-1) and mice (skin tissue assessed)",
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
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        "Apoptosis/necrosis",
        "DNA double-strand breaks (neutral comet assay)",
        "γ-H2AX (DNA damage marker)",
        "p53 expression"
    ],
    "main_findings": "EMF-LTE exposure alone did not affect cell viability, apoptosis/necrosis, or induce DNA double-strand breaks in B16 and HaCaT cells. EMF-LTE attenuated DNA DSB damage induced by ionizing radiation or bleomycin in vitro and reduced γ-H2AX levels in mouse skin after 4 weeks of exposure; p53 was upregulated in B16 and HaCaT cells.",
    "effect_direction": "benefit",
    "limitations": [
        "Sample size not reported in abstract",
        "Exposure duration for in vitro experiments not specified in abstract",
        "Findings are from cell lines and mice; human health impact not established",
        "Mechanistic role of p53 suggested but not established in abstract"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7399999999999999911182158029987476766109466552734375,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "EMF",
        "RF",
        "LTE",
        "1.762 GHz",
        "SAR",
        "skin",
        "DNA double-strand breaks",
        "neutral comet assay",
        "γ-H2AX",
        "p53",
        "HaCaT",
        "B16",
        "MNT-1",
        "ionizing radiation",
        "bleomycin",
        "in vivo mice"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
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            "weight": 0.90000000000000002220446049250313080847263336181640625,
            "reason": "Assesses RF-LTE exposure effects on DNA double-strand breaks and γ-H2AX in vitro and in vivo."
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