1800 MHz Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Field Impairs Neurite Outgrowth Through Inhibiting EPHA5 Signaling

Abstract

1800 MHz Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Field Impairs Neurite Outgrowth Through Inhibiting EPHA5 Signaling Chunhai Chen, Qinglong Ma, Ping Deng, Min Lin, Peng Gao, Mindi He, Yonghui Lu, Huifeng Pi, Zhixin He, Chao Zhou, Yanwen Zhang, Zhengping Yu, Lei Zhang. 1800 MHz Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Field Impairs Neurite Outgrowth Through Inhibiting EPHA5 Signaling. Front Cell Dev Biol. 2021 Apr 12. 9:657623. doi:10.3389/fcell.2021.657623. Abstract The increasing intensity of environmental radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) has increased public concern about its health effects. Of particular concern are the influences of RF-EMF exposure on the development of the brain. The mechanisms of how RF-EMF acts on the developing brain are not fully understood. Here, based on high-throughput RNA sequencing techniques, we revealed that transcripts related to neurite development were significantly influenced by 1800 MHz RF-EMF exposure during neuronal differentiation. Exposure to RF-EMF remarkably decreased the total length of neurite and the number of branch points in neural stem cells-derived neurons and retinoic acid-induced Neuro-2A cells. The expression of Eph receptors 5 (EPHA5), which is required for neurite outgrowth, was inhibited remarkably after RF-EMF exposure. Enhancing EPHA5 signaling rescued the inhibitory effects of RF-EMF on neurite outgrowth. Besides, we identified that cAMP-response element-binding protein (CREB) and RhoA were critical downstream factors of EPHA5 signaling in mediating the inhibitory effects of RF-EMF on neurite outgrowth. Together, our finding revealed that RF-EMF exposure impaired neurite outgrowth through EPHA5 signaling. This finding explored the effects and key mechanisms of how RF-EMF exposure impaired neurite outgrowth and also provided a new clue to understanding the influences of RF-EMF on brain development. Open access paper: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

Transcripts related to neurite development were reported as significantly influenced by 1800 MHz RF-EMF exposure during neuronal differentiation. RF-EMF exposure decreased total neurite length and number of branch points in neural stem cell-derived neurons and retinoic acid-induced Neuro-2A cells, and EPHA5 expression was inhibited; enhancing EPHA5 signaling rescued the inhibitory effects, with CREB and RhoA identified as downstream factors.

Outcomes measured

• Neurite outgrowth (total neurite length, number of branch points)
• Gene expression/transcripts related to neurite development (RNA sequencing)
• EPHA5 expression/signaling
• Downstream signaling factors (CREB, RhoA)

Limitations

• Exposure parameters such as SAR and duration were not provided in the abstract
• In vitro cell models; generalizability to in vivo brain development not established in the abstract
• Sample size and replication details not reported in the abstract

Suggested hubs

• 5g-policy (0)
• who-icnirp (0)

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        "source": null,
        "frequency_mhz": 1800,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": null
    },
    "population": "Neural stem cells-derived neurons and retinoic acid-induced Neuro-2A cells",
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "Neurite outgrowth (total neurite length, number of branch points)",
        "Gene expression/transcripts related to neurite development (RNA sequencing)",
        "EPHA5 expression/signaling",
        "Downstream signaling factors (CREB, RhoA)"
    ],
    "main_findings": "Transcripts related to neurite development were reported as significantly influenced by 1800 MHz RF-EMF exposure during neuronal differentiation. RF-EMF exposure decreased total neurite length and number of branch points in neural stem cell-derived neurons and retinoic acid-induced Neuro-2A cells, and EPHA5 expression was inhibited; enhancing EPHA5 signaling rescued the inhibitory effects, with CREB and RhoA identified as downstream factors.",
    "effect_direction": "harm",
    "limitations": [
        "Exposure parameters such as SAR and duration were not provided in the abstract",
        "In vitro cell models; generalizability to in vivo brain development not established in the abstract",
        "Sample size and replication details not reported in the abstract"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7800000000000000266453525910037569701671600341796875,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "1800 MHz",
        "RF-EMF",
        "neuronal differentiation",
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        "neural stem cells",
        "EPHA5",
        "CREB",
        "RhoA",
        "RNA sequencing"
    ],
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