Dose- and Time-Dependent Effects of Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Field on Adipose Tissue: Implications of Thermoregulation and Mitochondrial Signaling

Abstract

Dose- and Time-Dependent Effects of Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Field on Adipose Tissue: Implications of Thermoregulation and Mitochondrial Signaling Maalouf J, Pelletier A, Corona A, Gay-Quéheillard J, Bach V, de Seze R, Selmaoui B. Dose- and Time-Dependent Effects of Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Field on Adipose Tissue: Implications of Thermoregulation and Mitochondrial Signaling. Int J Mol Sci. 2023 Jun 25;24(13):10628. doi: 10.3390/ijms241310628. Abstract Recent studies have shed light on the effects of low-intensity radiofrequency (RF) fields on thermoregulation and adipose tissue metabolism. The present study aims to further explore these effects by analyzing the expression of thermoregulatory genes and investigating the involvement of mitochondria in adipose tissue metabolism. Male mice (n = 36 C57BL/6J) were assigned to either exposed or control groups. The exposed groups were subjected to RF fields at 900 MHz, with specific absorption rates (SAR) of 0.1 W/kg or 0.4 W/kg, either for three or seven consecutive days. The findings indicate that RF exposure leads to changes in adipose tissue markers, with some effects being dose-dependent and time-dependent. In brown adipose tissue (BAT), after 3 days of RF exposure, thermogenesis is reduced, mitochondrial activity in BAT decreases, and an increase in gene expression, responsible for balancing the regulatory and damaging effects of reactive oxygen species (ROS), was observed. This effect was partially compensated after 7 days of exposure. In white adipose tissue (WAT), RF exposure results in reduced fatty acid oxidation, impaired energy production, and hindered adipocyte differentiation. Notably, no effects of RF on mitochondrial biogenesis in WAT were observed. These findings contribute to understanding the effects of RF exposure on adipose tissue metabolism and thermoregulation, highlighting dose-dependent and time-dependent responses. Excerpt In conclusion, the findings of this study shed light on the potential effects of RF radiation exposure on adipose tissue. In BAT, the downregulation of CS, UCP1, and DIO2 mRNA expressions in BAT after 3 days of RF exposure at a SAR of 0.1 W/Kg indicates a reduced thermogenesis in BAT. However, compensatory mechanisms, represented by the upregulation of ACO1, were observed, suggesting an adaptation of BAT to RF exposure. In WAT, alterations were observed in the expression of several markers involved in thermogenesis and browning. Decreased expression of PPARα, CS, S100B, and PRDM16 mRNA was observed, indicating potential disruptions in metabolism, browning, and thermogenesis. However, upregulation of CPT1α mRNA expression, observed at a SAR of 0.4 W/kg, suggests a potential increase in fatty acid oxidation. Overall, these findings highlight the complex effects of RF radiation exposure on adipose tissue, with the potential to either decrease or increase thermogenesis and browning, depending on the SAR level. Further research is needed to better understand the mechanisms underlying these effects and the threshold of this change of effects, with further investigation on the protein level. Open access paper: mdpi.com

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

Male mice were exposed to 900 MHz RF at SAR 0.1 or 0.4 W/kg for 3 or 7 days. RF exposure was associated with dose- and time-dependent changes in adipose tissue markers: in BAT after 3 days, reduced thermogenesis and decreased mitochondrial activity with increased expression of genes related to balancing regulatory/damaging ROS effects, with partial compensation after 7 days; in WAT, reduced fatty acid oxidation, impaired energy production, and hindered adipocyte differentiation were reported, with no observed effects on mitochondrial biogenesis in WAT.

Outcomes measured

• Adipose tissue metabolism markers
• Thermoregulatory gene expression
• Brown adipose tissue (BAT) thermogenesis
• BAT mitochondrial activity
• Reactive oxygen species (ROS)-related gene expression
• White adipose tissue (WAT) fatty acid oxidation
• WAT energy production
• Adipocyte differentiation
• Mitochondrial biogenesis in WAT

Limitations

• Exposure source/setup not described in the provided abstract
• Outcomes described largely as gene expression/markers; protein-level confirmation noted as needed
• Short exposure duration (3 or 7 days)

{
    "study_type": "animal",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "RF",
        "source": null,
        "frequency_mhz": 900,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": "3 or 7 consecutive days"
    },
    "population": "Male mice (C57BL/6J)",
    "sample_size": 36,
    "outcomes": [
        "Adipose tissue metabolism markers",
        "Thermoregulatory gene expression",
        "Brown adipose tissue (BAT) thermogenesis",
        "BAT mitochondrial activity",
        "Reactive oxygen species (ROS)-related gene expression",
        "White adipose tissue (WAT) fatty acid oxidation",
        "WAT energy production",
        "Adipocyte differentiation",
        "Mitochondrial biogenesis in WAT"
    ],
    "main_findings": "Male mice were exposed to 900 MHz RF at SAR 0.1 or 0.4 W/kg for 3 or 7 days. RF exposure was associated with dose- and time-dependent changes in adipose tissue markers: in BAT after 3 days, reduced thermogenesis and decreased mitochondrial activity with increased expression of genes related to balancing regulatory/damaging ROS effects, with partial compensation after 7 days; in WAT, reduced fatty acid oxidation, impaired energy production, and hindered adipocyte differentiation were reported, with no observed effects on mitochondrial biogenesis in WAT.",
    "effect_direction": "mixed",
    "limitations": [
        "Exposure source/setup not described in the provided abstract",
        "Outcomes described largely as gene expression/markers; protein-level confirmation noted as needed",
        "Short exposure duration (3 or 7 days)"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7800000000000000266453525910037569701671600341796875,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "radiofrequency",
        "RF",
        "900 MHz",
        "SAR",
        "0.1 W/kg",
        "0.4 W/kg",
        "mouse",
        "C57BL/6J",
        "brown adipose tissue",
        "white adipose tissue",
        "thermoregulation",
        "thermogenesis",
        "mitochondria",
        "mitochondrial activity",
        "mitochondrial biogenesis",
        "ROS",
        "fatty acid oxidation",
        "adipocyte differentiation"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": []
}

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