Apoptosis is Induced by Radiofrequency Fields through the Caspase-Independent Mitochondrial Pathway in Cortical Neurons
Joubert, V., Bourthoumieu, S., Leveque, P. and Yardin, C. · 2008
View Original AbstractExposure of rat neurons to a 900 MHz radiofrequency field at 2 W/kg for 24 hours may induce a caspase-independent pathway to apoptosis involving AIF.
Plain English Summary
Researchers exposed rat primary neuronal cultures to a continuous-wave 900 MHz radiofrequency field at a specific absorption rate of 2 W/kg for 24 hours. A statistically significant difference in the rate of apoptosis was found in the RF-field-exposed neurons compared to the sham-, 37°C- and 39°C-exposed neurons either 0 or 24 h after exposure using both methods. The percentage of AIF-positive nuclei in RF-field-exposed neurons was increased by three- to sevenfold compared to other conditions, while no increase in caspase 3 activity was found.
Why This Matters
Apoptosis was assessed by two methods: nuclear condensation with DAPI staining observed with an epifluorescence microscope, and DNA fragmentation with TUNEL analyzed by flow cytometry. Because the radiofrequency exposure raised the temperature of the culture medium by 2°C, the researchers ran a separate control group kept at 39°C to check whether heat alone explained the results. A statistically significant difference in apoptosis remained when RF-exposed neurons were compared to the 39°C control group, as well as to sham- and 37°C-exposed neurons. To assess whether the observed apoptosis was caspase-dependent or -independent, assays measuring caspase 3 activity and apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) labeling were performed. The researchers concluded that, under their experimental conditions, exposure of primary rat neurons to CW RF fields may induce a caspase-independent pathway to apoptosis that involves AIF.
Exposure Details
- SAR
- 2 W/kg
- Source/Device
- CW 900 MHz
- Exposure Duration
- 24 h
Exposure Context
This study used 2 W/kg for SAR (device absorption):
- 5x above the Building Biology guideline of 0.4 W/kg
Building Biology guidelines are practitioner-based limits from real-world assessments. BioInitiative Report recommendations are based on peer-reviewed science. Check Your Exposure to compare your own measurements.
Where This Falls on the Concern Scale
Study Details
In the present study, we investigated whether continuous-wave (CW) radiofrequency (RF) fields induce neuron apoptosis in vitro.
Rat primary neuronal cultures were exposed to a CW 900 MHz RF field with a specific absorption rate...
A statistically significant difference in the rate of apoptosis was found in the RF-field-exposed n...
Our results show that, under the experimental conditions used, exposure of primary rat neurons to CW RF fields may induce a caspase-independent pathway to apoptosis that involves AIF.
Show BibTeX
@article{joubert_2008_apoptosis_is_induced_by_111,
author = {Joubert and V. and Bourthoumieu and S. and Leveque and P. and Yardin and C. },
title = {Apoptosis is Induced by Radiofrequency Fields through the Caspase-Independent Mitochondrial Pathway in Cortical Neurons},
year = {2008},
url = {https://meridian.allenpress.com/radiation-research/article-abstract/169/1/38/42579},
}