Induction of Autophagy in the Striatum and Hypothalamus of Mice after 835 MHz Radiofrequency Exposure.

Ju Hwan Kim,Yang Hoon Huh,Hak Rim Kim,Srinivasa M Srinivasula

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0153308

Ju Hwan Kim, Yang Hoon Huh + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0153308

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Journal: PloS one	Publication Date: Apr 13, 2016
Citations: 11	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Korea Basic Science Institute, Dankook University

Abstract

The extensive use of wireless mobile phones and associated communication devices has led to increasing public concern about potential biological health-related effects of the exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMFs). EMFs emitted by a mobile phone have been suggested to influence neuronal functions in the brain and affect behavior. However, the affects and phenotype of EMFs exposure are unclear. We applied radiofrequency (RF) of 835 MHz at a specific absorption rate (SAR) of 4.0 W/kg for 5 hours/day for 4 and 12 weeks to clarify the biological effects on mouse brain. Interestingly, microarray data indicated that a variety of autophagic related genes showed fold-change within small range after 835 MHz RF exposure. qRT-PCR revealed significant up-regulation of the autophagic genes Atg5, LC3A and LC3B in the striatum and hypothalamus after a 12-week RF. In parallel, protein expression of LC3B-II was also increased in both brain regions. Autophagosomes were observed in the striatum and hypothalamus of RF-exposed mice, based on neuronal transmission electron microscopy. Taken together, the results indicate that RF exposure of the brain can induce autophagy in neuronal tissues, providing insight into the protective mechanism or adaptation to RF stress.

Highlights

The burgeoning use of mobile phones and associated wireless communication devices in the past several decades has led to increasing public concern regarding possible adverse effects of the constant exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMFs) on human health
Increasing length of RF exposure to mice augmented the expression of Atg4A, Atg5, LC3A and LC3B genes in the striatum, and Atg5, LC3A and LC3B genes in the hypothalamus. These findings suggested that RF-EMF of 4.0 W/kg specific absorption rates (SAR) for 12 weeks was sufficient to activate the autophagy pathway in both the striatum and hypothalamus of mice
The present findings demonstrate that 835 MHz RF-EMF exposure is involved in the activation of the autophagy pathway in the mouse striatum and the hypothalamus regions of the brain

Summary

Introduction

The burgeoning use of mobile phones and associated wireless communication devices in the past several decades has led to increasing public concern regarding possible adverse effects of the constant exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMFs) on human health. Compared to the other parts of body, the human brain is exposed to relatively high specific absorption rates (SAR) owing to the close proximity between a mobile phone and the head [1]. A number of animal studies have shown that radiofrequency (RF)-EMFs emitted by a mobile phone results in altered neurotransmitter releases, behavioral change, increased blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability, increased albumin leak though BBB and neuronal damage in the brain tissues. Certain types of EMF are beneficial to human health, and are used clinically [13,14,15,16,17]

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