Studying gene expression profile of rat neuron exposed to 1800MHz radiofrequency electromagnetic fields with cDNA microassay.

PAPER pubmed Toxicology 2007 Animal study Effect: harm Evidence: Low

Read original paper → DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2007.03.015 PMID: 17449163 Evidence Lab

Abstract

A widespread use of mobile phone (MP) evokes a growing concern for their possible adverse effects on human, especially the brain. Gene expression is a unique way of characterizing how cells and organism adapt to changes in the external environment, so the aim of this investigation was to determine whether 1800 MHz radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF EMF) can influence the gene expression of neuron. Affymetrix Rat Neurobiology U34 array was applied to investigate the changes of gene expression in rat neuron after exposed to the pulsed RF EMF at a frequency of 1800 MHz modulated by 217 Hz which is commonly used in MP. Among 1200 candidate genes, 24 up-regulated genes and 10 down-regulated genes were identified after 24-h intermittent exposure at an average special absorption rate (SAR) of 2 W/kg, which are associated with multiple cellular functions (cytoskeleton, signal transduction pathway, metabolism, etc.) after functional classification. The results were further confirmed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT PCR). The present results indicated that the gene expression of rat neuron could be altered by exposure to RF EMF under our experimental conditions.

AI evidence extraction

At a glance

Study type

Animal study

Effect direction

harm

Population

rat neuron

Sample size

—

Exposure

RF mobile phone · 1800 MHz · 2 W/kg · 24-h intermittent exposure

Evidence strength

Low

Confidence: 78% · Peer-reviewed: yes

Main findings

After 24-h intermittent exposure to pulsed 1800 MHz RF EMF (217 Hz modulation) at average SAR 2 W/kg, 24 genes were up-regulated and 10 genes were down-regulated among 1200 candidate genes in rat neuron; results were further confirmed by quantitative RT-PCR.

Outcomes measured

Gene expression changes (cDNA microarray; Affymetrix Rat Neurobiology U34 array)
qRT-PCR confirmation of gene expression changes

Limitations

Sample size not reported in abstract
Exposure conditions are specific (pulsed 1800 MHz, 217 Hz modulation; SAR 2 W/kg; 24-h intermittent), limiting generalizability
Outcome limited to gene expression changes; no functional/health endpoints reported in abstract

Suggested hubs

mobile-phones-rf (0.9)
Study uses 1800 MHz RF exposure modulated at 217 Hz described as commonly used in mobile phones.

View raw extracted JSON

{
    "study_type": "animal",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "RF",
        "source": "mobile phone",
        "frequency_mhz": 1800,
        "sar_wkg": 2,
        "duration": "24-h intermittent exposure"
    },
    "population": "rat neuron",
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "Gene expression changes (cDNA microarray; Affymetrix Rat Neurobiology U34 array)",
        "qRT-PCR confirmation of gene expression changes"
    ],
    "main_findings": "After 24-h intermittent exposure to pulsed 1800 MHz RF EMF (217 Hz modulation) at average SAR 2 W/kg, 24 genes were up-regulated and 10 genes were down-regulated among 1200 candidate genes in rat neuron; results were further confirmed by quantitative RT-PCR.",
    "effect_direction": "harm",
    "limitations": [
        "Sample size not reported in abstract",
        "Exposure conditions are specific (pulsed 1800 MHz, 217 Hz modulation; SAR 2 W/kg; 24-h intermittent), limiting generalizability",
        "Outcome limited to gene expression changes; no functional/health endpoints reported in abstract"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7800000000000000266453525910037569701671600341796875,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "1800 MHz",
        "radiofrequency electromagnetic fields",
        "RF EMF",
        "mobile phone",
        "rat neuron",
        "gene expression",
        "microarray",
        "Affymetrix Rat Neurobiology U34",
        "217 Hz modulation",
        "SAR 2 W/kg",
        "qRT-PCR"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
        {
            "slug": "mobile-phones-rf",
            "weight": 0.90000000000000002220446049250313080847263336181640625,
            "reason": "Study uses 1800 MHz RF exposure modulated at 217 Hz described as commonly used in mobile phones."
        }
    ]
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract/metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This content is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice.

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