ID Number		1671
Study Type		In Vitro
Model		1800 MHz (GSM) exposure to lens epithelial cells and analysis of DNA damage and gene expression
Details		Human eye lens epithelial cells (hLEC) were exposed to 1800 MHz (GSM) RF for 2 hours at 0, 1, 2, or 3 W/kg and DNA assesed by comet assay (at 0, 30, 60, 120, and 240 minutes post-exposure). In addition, hsp 70 was assessed by RT-PCR and western blot and proliferation by BRdU incorporation at 0, 1, and 4 days post exposure. The authors report an increase in DNA breaks with 3 W/kg at the 0 and 30 minute post-exposure time points, and recovery at time points longer than 30 minutes post-exposure. No effect on DNA damage was observed below 3 W/kg. Hsp70 protein was increased with RF exposure at 2 and 3 W/kg with no parallel increase in hsp 70 mRNA. No effect on proliferation was found at any exposure level or post-exposure time point. In a subsequent paper, the authors report 24 hour exposure at 3 and 4 W/kg resulted in DNA damage by comet assay and increased reactive oxygen species, and phosphorylated H2AX histone protein (indicitive of ds breaks). G0/G1 arrest occured at 4 W/kg. The effects, however, did not lead to detectable apoptosis. In a subsequent paper, the authors again exposed LECs to 1800 MHz RF at 1, 2, 3, or 4 W/kg for 2 hrs and reported significant changes in Hsp27 and Hsp70 gene expression at all levels above 2 W/kg, as well as ERK1/2 and JNK1/2 phosphorylation (activation), but no change in Hsp90 levels. In a following paper, the authors again report ds breaks, G0/G1 cell cycle arrest, and increased reactive oxygen species when lens cells were exposed to a GSM signal at either 3 or 4 W/kg for 24 hours. However when electromagnetic noise was introduced into the GSM signal, the effects were reversed. The authors suggest their results support earlier observations by Litovitz et al of superimposed noise canceling the effects of a modulated RF signal.
Findings		Effects
Status		Completed With Publication
Principal Investigator		Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China - hch@mail.hz.zj.cn
Funding Agency		Nat'l Res Prog, China, Zhejiang Sci Foundation
Country		CHINA
References		Sun, LX et al. Zhonghua Loao Dong Wei Sheng Zhi Ye Bing Za Zhi, (2006) 24:465-467 Yao, K et al. Mol. Vis., (2008) 14:964-969 Yu, Y et al. Cell Res, (2008) 18:1233-1235 Yao, K et al. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, (2008) 49:2009-2015 Lixia, S et al. Mutation Research., (2006) 602:135-142
Comments		effects could be thermal in nature