Effects of 1950 MHz radiofrequency electromagnetic fields on Aβ processing in human neuroblastoma and mouse hippocampal neuronal cells.

PAPER pubmed Journal of radiation research 2018 In vitro study Effect: no_effect Evidence: Low

Read original paper → DOI: 10.1093/jrr/rrx045 PMID: 29040655 Evidence Lab

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease leading to progressive loss of memory and other cognitive functions. One of the well-known pathological markers of AD is the accumulation of amyloid-beta protein (Aβ), and its plaques, in the brain. Recent studies using Tg-5XFAD mice as a model of AD have reported that exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) from cellular phones reduced Aβ plaques in the brain and showed beneficial effects on AD. In this study, we examined whether exposure to 1950 MHz RF-EMF affects Aβ processing in neural cells. We exposed HT22 mouse hippocampal neuronal cells and SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells to RF-EMF (SAR 6 W/kg) for 2 h per day for 3 days, and analyzed the mRNA and protein expression of the key genes related to Aβ processing. When exposed to RF-EMF, mRNA levels of APP, BACE1, ADAM10 and PSEN1 were decreased in HT22, but the mRNA level of APP was not changed in SH-SY5Y cells. The protein expression of APP and BACE1, as well as the secreted Aβ peptide, was not significantly different between RF-EMF-exposed 7w-PSML, HT22 and SH-SY5Y cells and the unexposed controls. These observations suggest that RF-EMF exposure may not have a significant physiological effect on Aβ processing of neural cells in the short term. However, considering that we only exposed HT22 and SH-SY5Y cells to RF-EMF for 2 h per day for 3 days, we cannot exclude the possibility that 1950 MHz RF-EMF induces physiological change in Aβ processing with long-term and continuous exposure.

AI evidence extraction

At a glance

Study type

In vitro study

Effect direction

no_effect

Population

—

Sample size

—

Exposure

RF · 1950 MHz · 6 W/kg · 2 h/day for 3 days

Evidence strength

Low

Confidence: 78% · Peer-reviewed: yes

Main findings

In HT22 mouse hippocampal neuronal cells, RF-EMF exposure decreased mRNA levels of APP, BACE1, ADAM10 and PSEN1, while in SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells APP mRNA was not changed. Protein expression of APP and BACE1 and secreted Aβ peptide were not significantly different between exposed cells (including 7w-PSML, HT22 and SH-SY5Y) and unexposed controls; authors conclude no significant short-term physiological effect on Aβ processing under these exposure conditions.

Outcomes measured

mRNA expression of APP
mRNA expression of BACE1
mRNA expression of ADAM10
mRNA expression of PSEN1
protein expression of APP
protein expression of BACE1
secreted amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptide levels

Limitations

Short exposure duration (2 h/day for 3 days) limits inference about long-term/continuous exposure effects
In vitro cell models; may not reflect in vivo physiology
Sample size not reported in abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
    "study_type": "in_vitro",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "RF",
        "source": null,
        "frequency_mhz": 1950,
        "sar_wkg": 6,
        "duration": "2 h/day for 3 days"
    },
    "population": null,
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "mRNA expression of APP",
        "mRNA expression of BACE1",
        "mRNA expression of ADAM10",
        "mRNA expression of PSEN1",
        "protein expression of APP",
        "protein expression of BACE1",
        "secreted amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptide levels"
    ],
    "main_findings": "In HT22 mouse hippocampal neuronal cells, RF-EMF exposure decreased mRNA levels of APP, BACE1, ADAM10 and PSEN1, while in SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells APP mRNA was not changed. Protein expression of APP and BACE1 and secreted Aβ peptide were not significantly different between exposed cells (including 7w-PSML, HT22 and SH-SY5Y) and unexposed controls; authors conclude no significant short-term physiological effect on Aβ processing under these exposure conditions.",
    "effect_direction": "no_effect",
    "limitations": [
        "Short exposure duration (2 h/day for 3 days) limits inference about long-term/continuous exposure effects",
        "In vitro cell models; may not reflect in vivo physiology",
        "Sample size not reported in abstract"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7800000000000000266453525910037569701671600341796875,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "1950 MHz",
        "RF-EMF",
        "SAR 6 W/kg",
        "Alzheimer's disease",
        "amyloid-beta",
        "Aβ processing",
        "APP",
        "BACE1",
        "ADAM10",
        "PSEN1",
        "HT22",
        "SH-SY5Y"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": []
}

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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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