Short-term exposure of 2.4 GHz electromagnetic radiation on cellular ROS generation and apoptosis in

Abstract

Short-term exposure of 2.4 GHz electromagnetic radiation on cellular ROS generation and apoptosis in SH-SY5Y cell line and impact on developing chick embryo brain tissue Deena K, Maadurshni GB, Manivannan J, Sivasamy R. Short-term exposure of 2.4 GHz electromagnetic radiation on cellular ROS generation and apoptosis in SH-SY5Y cell line and impact on developing chick embryo brain tissue. Mol Biol Rep. 2025 Jan 21;52(1):144. doi: 10.1007/s11033-025-10217-8. Abstract Background: Electromagnetic radiation (EMR) from wireless technology and mobile phones, operates at various frequencies. The present study analyses the major impact of short-term exposure to 2.4 GHz frequency EMR, using the two model systems chick embryos and SH-SY5Y cell lines. We hypothesized that exposure to this frequency would induce oxidative stress and apoptosis in neurons. Methods and results: Chick embryos were exposed continuously to 2.4 GHz EMR for 4 h each day over a 5-day period, and comparisons were made with a control group. At the end of the exposure, brain tissues were dissected for histopathological analysis, antioxidant assays, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) detection. Additionally, SH-SY5Y cells were exposed to 2.4 GHz EMR to assess cell viability, DNA damage, and apoptosis. Our results showed that exposure to 2.4 GHz EMR induces oxidative stress in both chick embryos and the SH-SY5Y cells, though no significant tissue-level impact was observed. In SH- SY5Y cells, ROS production increased after 4 h of exposure, accompanied by moderate DNA damage and early markers of apoptosis, such as upregulation of the Bax gene. Furthermore, we observed that antioxidants, such as NAC and Mito-TEMPO, helped mitigate the cytotoxic effects of EMR in both the study models. Conclusion: In conclusion, short-term exposure (4 h) to 2.4 GHz EMR induced moderate cellular and molecular changes, primarily oxidative stress. The oxidative stress was reduced by antioxidants, which suggests potential benefits in preventing EMR-induced cytotoxicity. Extended exposure to EMR beyond 4 h may pose adverse health risks to humans, endorsing further investigation. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov Conclusion This study demonstrates the intricacy of the influential impacts of short-term exposure to 2.4 GHz electromagnetic radiation (EMR) at the cellular and tissue levels, thus shedding light on its potential biological implications. Even though there were no significant structural changes detected in histopathological studies of chick embryo brain tissues, results of scanning electron microscopy revealed micro-impacts after short-term exposure of 2.4 GHz, which induced moderate surface modifications. Similarly, antioxidant enzyme activities displayed differential responses where the levels of SOD increased, and on the other hand, CAT activity remained the same. These observations thus emphasise the tight regulation of oxidative stress responses to EMR exposure. In neuronal cell, SH-SY5Y, a marked increase in ROS generation was accompanied by DNA damage and upregulation of apoptotic markers, especially the Bax gene. These findings show that EMR causes oxidative stress and triggers the activation of apoptosis-related pathways stating that mitochondria have a role in these events. Interestingly, the antioxidant protection by NAC and Mito-TEMPO shows a potential area of intervention for the abrogation of oxidative stress due to EMR.

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

Exposure to 2.4 GHz EMR induced oxidative stress in both chick embryos and SH-SY5Y cells, with increased ROS after 4 h in SH-SY5Y cells accompanied by moderate DNA damage and early apoptosis markers (including Bax upregulation). No significant tissue-level impact was observed in chick embryo brain histopathology, though scanning electron microscopy reportedly showed micro-impacts/surface modifications. Antioxidants (NAC and Mito-TEMPO) mitigated cytotoxic effects in both models.

Outcomes measured

• Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation
• Oxidative stress / antioxidant enzyme activity (e.g., SOD, CAT)
• Histopathology of chick embryo brain tissue
• Scanning electron microscopy (surface modifications)
• Cell viability (SH-SY5Y)
• DNA damage (SH-SY5Y)
• Apoptosis / apoptotic markers (e.g., Bax gene upregulation)
• Effect of antioxidants (NAC, Mito-TEMPO) on EMR-associated cytotoxicity

Limitations

• SAR/dosimetry not reported in the abstract
• Sample size not reported in the abstract
• Exposure setup details (e.g., power density, distance, modulation) not reported in the abstract
• Findings are from model systems (cell line and chick embryos), limiting direct inference to humans

Suggested hubs

• school-wi-fi (0.55)
  Study examines 2.4 GHz EMR, a common Wi‑Fi frequency, though the source is described broadly as wireless technology/mobile phones.

{
    "study_type": "in_vitro",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "RF",
        "source": "wireless technology and mobile phones",
        "frequency_mhz": 2400,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": "4 h/day for 5 days (chick embryos); 4 h exposure (SH-SY5Y cells)"
    },
    "population": "Chick embryos and SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cell line",
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation",
        "Oxidative stress / antioxidant enzyme activity (e.g., SOD, CAT)",
        "Histopathology of chick embryo brain tissue",
        "Scanning electron microscopy (surface modifications)",
        "Cell viability (SH-SY5Y)",
        "DNA damage (SH-SY5Y)",
        "Apoptosis / apoptotic markers (e.g., Bax gene upregulation)",
        "Effect of antioxidants (NAC, Mito-TEMPO) on EMR-associated cytotoxicity"
    ],
    "main_findings": "Exposure to 2.4 GHz EMR induced oxidative stress in both chick embryos and SH-SY5Y cells, with increased ROS after 4 h in SH-SY5Y cells accompanied by moderate DNA damage and early apoptosis markers (including Bax upregulation). No significant tissue-level impact was observed in chick embryo brain histopathology, though scanning electron microscopy reportedly showed micro-impacts/surface modifications. Antioxidants (NAC and Mito-TEMPO) mitigated cytotoxic effects in both models.",
    "effect_direction": "mixed",
    "limitations": [
        "SAR/dosimetry not reported in the abstract",
        "Sample size not reported in the abstract",
        "Exposure setup details (e.g., power density, distance, modulation) not reported in the abstract",
        "Findings are from model systems (cell line and chick embryos), limiting direct inference to humans"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7399999999999999911182158029987476766109466552734375,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "2.4 GHz",
        "RF-EMR",
        "wireless technology",
        "mobile phones",
        "SH-SY5Y",
        "chick embryo",
        "brain tissue",
        "oxidative stress",
        "ROS",
        "DNA damage",
        "apoptosis",
        "Bax",
        "NAC",
        "Mito-TEMPO",
        "antioxidants"
    ],
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            "reason": "Study examines 2.4 GHz EMR, a common Wi‑Fi frequency, though the source is described broadly as wireless technology/mobile phones."
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    ]
}

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