Early-life exposure to 27.5 GHz 5G millimeter-wave radiation induces skin-related biological responses in mice

Abstract

Sci Rep . 2026 Jun 8. doi: 10.1038/s41598-026-57133-w. Online ahead of print. Early-life exposure to 27.5 GHz 5G millimeter-wave radiation induces skin-related biological responses in mice Francesca Palone # 1, Emiliano Fratini # 1, Flavia Novelli 1, Simona Leonardi 1, Ilaria De Stefano 1, Emanuela Pasquali 1, Mirella Tanori 1, Rosanna Pinto 1, Lucia Ardoino 1, Alessandro Zambotti 1, Francesca Camera 1, Marta Piscitelli 1, Caterina Merla 1, Simonetta Pazzaglia 1, Myles Capstick 2, Theodoros Samaras 3 4, Mariateresa Mancuso 5 Affiliations Expand PMID: 42260123 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-026-57133-w Free article Abstract The global rollout of 5G networks has raised questions regarding the potential biological effects of millimeter-wave exposure, particularly in the skin due to its limited penetration depth. This study examined the effects of whole-body exposure to 27.5 GHz millimeter waves, a frequency within the 5G FR2 bands, on skin-related biological responses in early life mice. Patched1- heterozygous knockout and wild-type CD1 mice were exposed from birth to weaning (P21), 23 h per day, in 10-minute ON/5-minute OFF cycles, at two power densities (6.67 and 20 W/m²). SHAM-exposed animals served as a control. No overt histological abnormalities were observed in exposed skin. However, molecular analyses revealed significant modulation of inflammation-related gene expression. Notably, Ccl4, Csf2, and Tnfsf11 emerged as central regulatory nodes, displaying high degree and betweenness centrality across all groups, irrespective of genotype and sex. Crucially, exposure significantly stimulated mast cell degranulation and, in wild-type mice, led to a reduction in cutaneous glutamate levels. Concurrently, a down-regulation of transcripts associated with cutaneous sensory components (Calca, Mrgprd) was observed within the skin microenvironment. These findings show that 27.5 GHz exposure induces coordinated changes in cutaneous inflammatory pathways and mast cell-mediated homeostasis without detectable structural damage. Overall, these results demonstrate a localized molecular and cellular response within the cutaneous microenvironment, reflecting a subtle homeostatic shift, and suggest that genetic background may contribute to variability in the biological response to millimeter-wave exposure. Keywords: Ptch1 +/− mice; Inflammation, Mast cells; MMW; Radiofrequency radiation.

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

Exposure to 27.5 GHz 5G millimeter-wave radiation in early-life mice induced significant modulation of inflammation-related gene expression, stimulated mast cell degranulation, reduced cutaneous glutamate levels in wild-type mice, and down-regulated sensory-related transcripts without causing structural skin damage.

Outcomes measured

• inflammation-related gene expression modulation
• mast cell degranulation
• cutaneous glutamate level reduction
• down-regulation of transcripts associated with cutaneous sensory components
• no overt histological abnormalities in skin

Limitations

• study conducted in mice, limiting direct human applicability
• sample size not specified
• only early-life exposure assessed
• no functional or clinical skin outcomes reported

Suggested hubs

• 5g-policy (0.8)
  Study investigates biological effects of 5G millimeter-wave exposure.

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    "exposure": {
        "band": "mmWave",
        "source": "5G millimeter-wave radiation",
        "frequency_mhz": 27500,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": "from birth to weaning (P21), 23 h per day, in 10-minute ON/5-minute OFF cycles"
    },
    "population": "mice (Patched1- heterozygous knockout and wild-type CD1)",
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "inflammation-related gene expression modulation",
        "mast cell degranulation",
        "cutaneous glutamate level reduction",
        "down-regulation of transcripts associated with cutaneous sensory components",
        "no overt histological abnormalities in skin"
    ],
    "main_findings": "Exposure to 27.5 GHz 5G millimeter-wave radiation in early-life mice induced significant modulation of inflammation-related gene expression, stimulated mast cell degranulation, reduced cutaneous glutamate levels in wild-type mice, and down-regulated sensory-related transcripts without causing structural skin damage.",
    "effect_direction": "mixed",
    "limitations": [
        "study conducted in mice, limiting direct human applicability",
        "sample size not specified",
        "only early-life exposure assessed",
        "no functional or clinical skin outcomes reported"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.40000000000000002220446049250313080847263336181640625,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "5G",
        "millimeter-wave",
        "skin",
        "inflammation",
        "mast cells",
        "radiofrequency radiation",
        "Ptch1 +/− mice"
    ],
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