Effects of 1800 MHz RF-EMF exposure on DNA damage and cellular functions in primary cultured neurogenic cells

Abstract

Purpose: To systematically evaluate the effects of 1800 MHz radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) exposure on DNA damage and cellular functions in primary cultured neurogenic cells.

Materials and methods: The primary cultured astrocytes, microglia and cortical neurons were exposed to RF-EMF at a SAR of 4.0 W/kg. The DNA damage was evaluated by γH2AX foci formation assay. The secretions of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β) in astrocytes and microglia, microglial phagocytic activity and neuronal development were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, phagocytosis assay and immunofluorescent staining on microtubule-associated protein tau, microtubule-associated protein 2, postsynaptic density 95 and gephyrin, respectively.

Results: RF-EMF exposure did not significantly induce γH2AX foci formation in three primary cultured neurogenic cells. Furthermore, RF-EMF exposure did not significantly affect the secretion of cytokines in astrocytes and microglia, and the morphological indicators of dendrites or synapses of cortical neurons. However, the exposure significantly reduced the phagocytic activity of microglia and inhibited the axon branch length and branch number of cortical neurons.

Conclusions: Our data demonstrated that exposure to RF-EMF did not elicit DNA damage but inhibited the phagocytic ability of microglia and the axon branch length and branch number of cortical neurons.

Keywords:

• RF-EMF
• primary cultured neurogenic cells
• DNA damage
• cellular functions

Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Dr. Yijun Liu, Institute of Neuroscience, Zhejiang University School of Medicine for her technical assistance and discussion.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant [number: 81102094, 81573109].

Notes on contributors

Liling Su

Liling Su was a PhD student from Bioelectromagnetics Laboratory, Zhejiang University School of Medicine and received a PhD degree in 2016. Dr. Su is instructor of Jiangxi Medical College and works on environmental stress and health, specifically the biological effects induced by EMF and chemicals in the nervous system.

Aziguli Yimaer

Aziguli Yimaer is a master's student majoring in Environmental and Occupational Health at Zhejiang University School of Medicine. She works on the mechanism of differential cellular response to electromagnetic fields.

Zhengping Xu

Zhengping Xu is a full professor from Zhejiang University School of Medicine and is the director of Bioelectromagnetics Laboratory. Dr. Xu works on exposure to electromagnetic fields and health and he supports the research work platform for EMF studies in the lab.

Guangdi Chen

Guangdi Chen is professor from Zhejiang University School of Medicine and works on cellular response to environmental electromagnetic fields. Dr. Guangdi Chen is the supervisor of Liling Su and Aziguli Yimaer, two co-authors of this study.