Negative Controls That Matter
Independent Voices
RF Safe
Jan 14, 2026
RF Safe argues that “no effect” findings in some RF exposure studies should be interpreted as meaningful negative controls rather than as evidence that RF has no biological effects. The post presents RF Safe’s “S4–Mito–Spin” framework, claiming certain skin cell types (fibroblasts and keratinocytes) are predicted to…
5G-exposed human skin cells do not respond with altered gene expression and methylation profiles
Research
RF Safe Research Library
Jan 1, 2025
This in vitro study exposed human skin cells (fibroblasts and keratinocytes) to 5G-band electromagnetic fields for 2 hours and 48 hours using a fully blinded design. Exposures were up to ten times permissible limits, with sham exposure as a negative control and UV exposure as a positive control. The study reports…
Effect of Electromagnetic Field on Proliferation and Migration of Fibroblasts and Keratinocytes: Implications in Wound Healing and Regeneration.
Research
RF Safe Research Library
Jan 1, 2024
This narrative review discusses reported effects of EMF, including low-frequency EMF (LF-EMF), on cell behaviors relevant to wound healing and on recovery processes after traumatic brain injury (TBI). It summarizes literature suggesting EMF can promote migration and proliferation of fibroblasts, keratinocytes, and…
Activation of matrix metalloproteinases and FoxO3a in HaCaT keratinocytes by radiofrequency electromagnetic field exposure.
Research
RF Safe Research Library
Jan 1, 2021
This in vitro study exposed HaCaT human keratinocytes to 1760 MHz RF-EMF (SAR 4.0 W/kg; 2 h/day for 4 days). The authors report increased intracellular ROS and increased expression/activity of several matrix metalloproteinases, along with increased phosphorylation of FoxO3a and ERK1/2. Cell growth/viability and…
Low-frequency electromagnetic field influences human oral mucosa keratinocyte viability in response to lipopolysaccharide or minocycline treatment in cell culture conditions.
Research
RF Safe Research Library
Jan 1, 2021
This in vitro study examined whether low-frequency electromagnetic field (LF-EMF) exposure affects viability of human oral mucosa keratinocytes. Apoptosis (early/late) and necrosis were measured by flow cytometry, including conditions with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or minocycline. The authors report that LF-EMF, alone…
Fas/FasL pathway and cytokines in keratinocytes in atopic dermatitis - Manipulation by the electromagnetic field.
Research
RF Safe Research Library
Jan 1, 2018
This in vitro study exposed keratinocytes from atopic dermatitis patients and healthy controls, plus two keratinocyte cell lines, to a 900 MHz electromagnetic field for 60 minutes. AD-derived keratinocytes showed higher Fas/FasL signaling markers and increased secretion of multiple cytokines versus controls. EMF…
Extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields accelerates wound healing modulating MMP-9 and inflammatory cytokines.
Research
RF Safe Research Library
Jan 1, 2018
This in vitro study used a scratch wound model in human immortalized keratinocytes (HaCaT) to examine effects of extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF). ELF-EMF exposure was reported to accelerate wound closure compared with sham and to increase inflammatory cytokine expression/release. The authors…
Human keratinocytes in culture exhibit no response when exposed to short duration, low amplitude, high frequency (900 MHz) electromagnetic fields in a reverberation chamber.
Research
RF Safe Research Library
Jan 1, 2011
This in vitro study exposed normal human epidermal keratinocytes to non-thermal 900 MHz electromagnetic fields in a mode-stirred reverberation chamber under two short-duration conditions. Microarray analysis found only limited gene modulation (20 genes) with small expression ratios and no shared genes across…