Label-Free Study of the Global Cell Behavior during Exposure to Environmental Radiofrequency Fields in the Presence or Absence of Pro-Apoptotic or Pro-Autophagic Treatments

Abstract

Label-Free Study of the Global Cell Behavior during Exposure to Environmental Radiofrequency Fields in the Presence or Absence of Pro-Apoptotic or Pro-Autophagic Treatments Joushomme A, Garenne A, Dufossée M, Renom R, Ruigrok HJ, Chappe YL, Canovi A, Patrignoni L, Hurtier A, Poulletier de Gannes F, Lagroye I, Lévêque P, Lewis N, Priault M, Arnaud-Cormos D, Percherancier Y. Label-Free Study of the Global Cell Behavior during Exposure to Environmental Radiofrequency Fields in the Presence or Absence of Pro-Apoptotic or Pro-Autophagic Treatments. Int J Mol Sci. 2022 Jan 8;23(2):658. doi: 10.3390/ijms23020658. Abstract It remains controversial whether exposure to environmental radiofrequency signals (RF) impacts cell status or response to cellular stress such as apoptosis or autophagy. We used two label-free techniques, cellular impedancemetry and Digital Holographic Microscopy (DHM), to assess the overall cellular response during RF exposure alone, or during co-exposure to RF and chemical treatments known to induce either apoptosis or autophagy. Two human cell lines (SH-SY5Y and HCT116) and two cultures of primary rat cortex cells (astrocytes and co-culture of neurons and glial cells) were exposed to RF using an 1800 MHz carrier wave modulated with various environmental signals (GSM: Global System for Mobile Communications, 2G signal), UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System, 3G signal), LTE (Long-Term Evolution, 4G signal, and Wi-Fi) or unmodulated RF (continuous wave, CW). The specific absorption rates (S.A.R.) used were 1.5 and 6 W/kg during DHM experiments and ranged from 5 to 24 W/kg during the recording of cellular impedance. Cells were continuously exposed for three to five consecutive days while the temporal phenotypic signature of cells behavior was recorded at constant temperature. Statistical analysis of the results does not indicate that RF-EMF exposure impacted the global behavior of healthy, apoptotic, or autophagic cells, even at S.A.R. levels higher than the guidelines, provided that the temperature was kept constant. Open access paper: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

Across two human cell lines and primary rat cortex cell cultures, statistical analysis did not indicate that RF-EMF exposure (1800 MHz carrier wave with GSM/UMTS/LTE/Wi‑Fi modulations or continuous wave) impacted the recorded global cellular behavior of healthy cells or cells undergoing chemically induced apoptosis or autophagy, when temperature was kept constant.

Outcomes measured

• Global cellular behavior/phenotypic signature measured by cellular impedancemetry
• Global cellular behavior/phenotypic signature measured by Digital Holographic Microscopy (DHM)
• Cell response during RF exposure alone
• Cell response during co-exposure to RF and pro-apoptotic chemical treatment
• Cell response during co-exposure to RF and pro-autophagic chemical treatment

Limitations

• Sample size not reported in abstract
• Only global/label-free phenotypic measures reported; specific molecular endpoints not described in abstract
• In vitro models (cell lines and primary cultures) may not generalize to in vivo outcomes
• Exposure conditions include SAR levels above guidelines; interpretation depends on temperature control as stated

Suggested hubs

• who-icnirp (0.55)
  Abstract explicitly references SAR levels higher than guidelines and notes no effects when temperature was controlled.

{
    "study_type": "in_vitro",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "RF",
        "source": "environmental radiofrequency signals (GSM/UMTS/LTE/Wi‑Fi; continuous wave)",
        "frequency_mhz": 1800,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": "continuous exposure for three to five consecutive days"
    },
    "population": "Two human cell lines (SH-SY5Y, HCT116) and primary rat cortex cell cultures (astrocytes; neuron/glial co-culture)",
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "Global cellular behavior/phenotypic signature measured by cellular impedancemetry",
        "Global cellular behavior/phenotypic signature measured by Digital Holographic Microscopy (DHM)",
        "Cell response during RF exposure alone",
        "Cell response during co-exposure to RF and pro-apoptotic chemical treatment",
        "Cell response during co-exposure to RF and pro-autophagic chemical treatment"
    ],
    "main_findings": "Across two human cell lines and primary rat cortex cell cultures, statistical analysis did not indicate that RF-EMF exposure (1800 MHz carrier wave with GSM/UMTS/LTE/Wi‑Fi modulations or continuous wave) impacted the recorded global cellular behavior of healthy cells or cells undergoing chemically induced apoptosis or autophagy, when temperature was kept constant.",
    "effect_direction": "no_effect",
    "limitations": [
        "Sample size not reported in abstract",
        "Only global/label-free phenotypic measures reported; specific molecular endpoints not described in abstract",
        "In vitro models (cell lines and primary cultures) may not generalize to in vivo outcomes",
        "Exposure conditions include SAR levels above guidelines; interpretation depends on temperature control as stated"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7800000000000000266453525910037569701671600341796875,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "radiofrequency",
        "RF-EMF",
        "1800 MHz",
        "GSM",
        "UMTS",
        "LTE",
        "Wi-Fi",
        "continuous wave",
        "SAR",
        "cellular impedancemetry",
        "digital holographic microscopy",
        "apoptosis",
        "autophagy",
        "SH-SY5Y",
        "HCT116",
        "astrocytes",
        "neurons",
        "glial cells"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
        {
            "slug": "who-icnirp",
            "weight": 0.5500000000000000444089209850062616169452667236328125,
            "reason": "Abstract explicitly references SAR levels higher than guidelines and notes no effects when temperature was controlled."
        }
    ]
}

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