Effects of millimeter wave on gene expression in human keratinocytes

Abstract

To explore the effect of millimeter wave exposure at low power density on gene expression in human keratinocytes (HaCaT). HaCaT keratinocytes were exposed to 30.16 GHz millimeter wave with power densities of 1.0 or 3.5 mW/cm2 for 30 min per day. Gene expression profiles were obtained using the Affymetrix human genome U95A GeneChip. Reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed to confirm the differential expression of genes obtained from Genechip analysis. PAR-2 and ERGIC-53 genes in HaCaT cells were up-regulated by 3.5 mW/cm2 millimeter wave exposure for 4 times. ERGIC-53 gene was also up-regulated by 1.0 mW/cm2 millimeter wave exposure for 4 times. However, no significant change for PAR-2 expression was found after the same exposure. Millimeter wave exposure could affect gene expression in human keratinocytes, which might be related to the intensity and the times of exposure.