Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Brain proteome response following whole body exposure of mice to mobile phone or wireless DECT base radiation med./bio.

By: Fragopoulou AF, Samara A, Antonelou MH, Xanthopoulou A, Papadopoulou A, Vougas K, Koutsogiannopoulou E, Anastasiadou E, Stravopodis DJ, Tsangaris GT, Margaritis LH

Published in: Electromagn Biol Med 2012; 31 (4): 250-274

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Aim of study (acc. to author)

To study the effects of two sources of electromagnetic fields (mobile phone and DECT) on the proteome of cerebellum, hippocampus, and frontal lobe in mice following long-term whole body irradiation.

Background/further details

18 male mice were divided into three groups (n=6 per proup): 1) mobile phone exposure group, 2) DECT exposure group, 3) sham exposure group.

Endpoint

molecular biosynthesis: protein expression in the mouse brain

Exposure

- 900–1,900 MHz
- PW pulsed wave
- mobile communications
- mobile phone
- digital mobile phone
- GSM
- DECT
- wireless transmitter/antenna

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 900 MHz Modulation type: pulsed Exposure duration: continuous for 3 h/day for 8 months	electric field strength: 15 V/m minimum (inside the cage) electric field strength: 22 V/m maximum (inside the cage) SAR: 0.17 W/kg minimum (whole body) SAR: 0.37 W/kg maximum (whole body)
Exposure 2: 1,880–1,900 MHz Exposure duration: continuous for 8 h/day during 8 months	electric field strength: 4 V/m minimum (inside the cage) electric field strength: 6 V/m maximum (inside the cage) SAR: 0.012 W/kg minimum (whole body) SAR: 0.028 W/kg maximum (whole body)

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	900 MHz
Type	electromagnetic field
Exposure duration	continuous for 3 h/day for 8 months

Modulation

Modulation type	pulsed

Exposure setup

Exposure source	GSM mobile phone
Setup	mobile phone placed under the semi-Faraday cage (425 x 266 x 155 mm) with one open side to allow the mobile phone irradiation to enter the cage; radio playing during exposure to mimic talking
Sham exposure	A sham exposure was conducted.

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
electric field strength	15 V/m	minimum	measured	-	inside the cage
electric field strength	22 V/m	maximum	measured	-	inside the cage
SAR	0.17 W/kg	minimum	calculated	whole body	-
SAR	0.37 W/kg	maximum	calculated	whole body	-

Exposure 2

Main characteristics

Frequency	1,880–1,900 MHz
Type	electromagnetic field
Exposure duration	continuous for 8 h/day during 8 months

Exposure setup

Exposure source	wireless DECT base station
Setup	DECT base station scanning all 10 allocated channels without communication to a mobile device; placed close to the semi-Faraday cage (425 x 266 x 155 mm) with one open side; radio playing during exposure
Sham exposure	A sham exposure was conducted.

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
electric field strength	4 V/m	minimum	measured	-	inside the cage
electric field strength	6 V/m	maximum	measured	-	inside the cage
SAR	0.012 W/kg	minimum	calculated	whole body	-
SAR	0.028 W/kg	maximum	calculated	whole body	-

Reference articles

Fragopoulou AF et al. (2010): Cranial and postcranial skeletal variations induced in mouse embryos by mobile phone radiation
Fragopoulou AF et al. (2010): Whole body exposure with GSM 900MHz affects spatial memory in mice

Exposed system:

animal
mouse/BALB/c
whole body

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

molecular biosynthesis: protein expression (two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, peptide fingerprint, Western blot (of apolipoprotein E, GFAP and glia maturation factor beta GMF))

Investigated system:

isolated bio./chem. substance
homogenates of different brain regions (cerebellum, hippocampus, and frontal lobe)

Investigated organ system:

brain/CNS

Time of investigation:

after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

The data showed that long-term exposure to both electromagnetic field sources altered significantly the expression of 143 proteins in total (neural function related proteins, heat shock proteins, cytoskeletal proteins, proteins of the brain metabolism). Most of these changes occured in the hippocampus and the majority of the changes was induced by mobile phone exposure. Western blot analysis confirmed the differential expression of two upregulated proteins (apoE and GFAP) and one downregulated protein (GMF).

Study character:

medical/biological study
experimental study
full/main study

Study funded by

University of Athens, Greece

Sepehrimanesh M et al. (2014): Analysis of rat testicular proteome following 30-day exposure to 900 MHz electromagnetic field radiation
Maskey D et al. (2014): Immunohistochemical localization of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor in the superior olivary complex of mice after radiofrequency exposure
Yang XS et al. (2012): Exposure to 2.45 GHz electromagnetic fields elicits an HSP-related stress response in rat hippocampus
Sakurai T et al. (2011): Analysis of gene expression in a human-derived glial cell line exposed to 2.45 GHz continuous radiofrequency electromagnetic fields
Nylund R et al. (2010): Analysis of proteome response to the mobile phone radiation in two types of human primary endothelial cells
Vanderstraeten J et al. (2008): Gene and protein expression following exposure to radiofrequency fields from mobile phones
Karinen A et al. (2008): Mobile phone radiation might alter protein expression in human skin
Nittby H et al. (2008): Exposure to radiation from global system for mobile communications at 1,800 MHz significantly changes gene expression in rat hippocampus and cortex
Zhao TY et al. (2007): Exposure to cell phone radiation up-regulates apoptosis genes in primary cultures of neurons and astrocytes
Belyaev IY et al. (2006): Exposure of rat brain to 915 MHz GSM microwaves induces changes in gene expression but not double stranded DNA breaks or effects on chromatin conformation
Remondini D et al. (2006): Gene expression changes in human cells after exposure to mobile phone microwaves
Nylund R et al. (2006): Mobile phone radiation causes changes in gene and protein expression in human endothelial cell lines and the response seems to be genome- and proteome-dependent
Zeng Q et al. (2006): Effects of global system for mobile communications 1800 MHz radiofrequency electromagnetic fields on gene and protein expression in MCF-7 cells
Nylund R et al. (2004): Proteomics analysis of human endothelial cell line EA.hy926 after exposure to GSM 900 radiation
Fritze K et al. (1997): Effect of global system for mobile communication microwave exposure on the genomic response of the rat brain

Brain proteome response following whole body exposure of mice to mobile phone or wireless DECT base radiation med./bio.

Aim of study (acc. to author)

Background/further details

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Modulation

Exposure setup

Parameters

Exposure 2

Main characteristics

Exposure setup

Parameters

Reference articles

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

Study funded by

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