Modulation of heat shock protein response in SH-SY5Y by mobile phone microwaves.
Calabrò E, Condello S, Currò M, Ferlazzo N, Caccamo D, Magazù S, Ientile R. · 2012
View Original AbstractCell phone radiation at 1800 MHz triggered cellular stress responses in brain-like cells within 2-4 hours of exposure.
Plain English Summary
Italian researchers exposed human brain-like cells to 1800 MHz microwave radiation (the same frequency used by GSM cell phones) for 2 and 4 hours. They found that this exposure altered the production of heat shock proteins - cellular stress indicators that help protect cells from damage. Specifically, one protective protein (Hsp20) decreased at both exposure times, while another stress protein (Hsp70) increased after 4 hours, suggesting the cells were responding to electromagnetic stress.
Why This Matters
This study adds important evidence to our understanding of how cell phone radiation affects brain cells at the molecular level. Heat shock proteins serve as an early warning system for cellular stress - think of them as your cells' smoke detectors. When these proteins change their normal patterns, it signals that cells are working harder to protect themselves from potential damage. What makes this research particularly relevant is that the 1800 MHz frequency tested is identical to what millions of people are exposed to daily through GSM cell phones. The fact that researchers observed these stress responses in neuron-like cells within just 2-4 hours of exposure raises questions about what might happen with the chronic, long-term exposure patterns typical of modern cell phone use. While the cells didn't die during this short exposure period, the altered stress protein patterns suggest they were responding to the electromagnetic fields as a potential threat.
Exposure Information
Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study. The study examined exposure from: 1800 MHz Duration: 2 and 4 hours
Study Details
To investigate putative biological damage caused by GSM mobile phone frequencies by assessing electromagnetic fields during mobile phone working.
Neuron-like cells, obtained by retinoic-acid-induced differentiation of human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y ...
Cell stress response was evaluated by MTT assay as well as changes in the heat shock protein express...
The modulation of the expression of Hsps in neuronal cells can be an early response to radiofrequency microwaves.
Show BibTeX
@article{e_2012_modulation_of_heat_shock_1941,
author = {Calabrò E and Condello S and Currò M and Ferlazzo N and Caccamo D and Magazù S and Ientile R.},
title = {Modulation of heat shock protein response in SH-SY5Y by mobile phone microwaves.},
year = {2012},
url = {https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3286792/},
}