Study of Ultra-weak CW and Amplitude-Modulated Microwaves effects on stem Cell Proliferation: an Experimental and Hypothetical Approach

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

1 Biomedical Engineering Department, Amirkabir University of Technology (Tehran Polytechnic), Tehran, Iran

2 Developmental Biology Laboratory, School of Biology, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

3 Biomedical Engineering Department, Amirkabir University of Technology (Tehran Polytechnic)

4 Department of Biotechnology, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

5 Bioelectromagnetics Laboratory, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Tehran

6 School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

7 INSF Chair of Computational Electromagnetics and Bio-electromagnetics, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

Weak microwave radiation (WMR) in our environment has raised health concerns in the public. Among those, communication frequencies are more than ever becoming widespread and their effects need thorough studies. A correct understanding of these effects in-vivo by in-vitro experiments shall preferentially use primary cells. In this study we compared non-modulated (CW) and modulated WMR exposure of biological cells in-vitro. Human ADMSC (Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells) were exposed to very weak non-thermal levels of microwave Electromagnetic fields at 1135 MHz ,SAR (Specific Absorption Rate) 0.002 W/kg (Watt per Kilogram) for 30 minutes daily for 4 days. A statistically significant decrease in proliferation rate of these stem cells was observed compared to the control group with no exposure. When amplitude-modulated exposure (15 Hz (Hertz) with a depth of 80%) was used with the same carrier frequency of 1135 MHz (Mega Hertz) and consistent average power, the cell numbers showed no statistically significant difference from the non-modulated exposure, but were nevertheless lower than the not-exposed control. The observed decrease in proliferation in response to -weak microwavefields supports the hypothesis that non-excitable cells, such as undifferentiated mesenchymal stem cells can interact with, and respond to weak electromagnetic radiation at communication frequencies. Possible mechanisms responsible for the observed results have been hypothesized and directions provided for future research.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

[1] M. Levin, C.G. Stevenson, Regulation of cell behavior and tissue patterning by bioelectrical signals: challenges and opportunities for biomedical engineering, Annual review of biomedical engineering, 14 (2012) 295-323.
[2] M. Levin, Molecular bioelectricity in developmental biology: new tools and recent discoveries: control of cell behavior and pattern formation by transmembrane potential gradients, Bioessays, 34(3) (2012) 205-217.
[3] Q. Balzano, Proposed test for detection of nonlinear responses in biological preparations exposed to RF energy, Bioelectromagnetics: Journal of the Bioelectromagnetics Society, The Society for Physical Regulation in Biology and Medicine, The European Bioelectromagnetics Association, 23(4) (2002) 278-287.
[4] M.G. Moisescu, P. Leveque, M.A. Verjus, E. Kovacs, L.M. Mir, 900 MHz modulated electromagnetic fields accelerate the clathrin‐mediated endocytosis pathway, Bioelectromagnetics: Journal of the Bioelectromagnetics Society, The Society for Physical Regulation in Biology and Medicine, The European Bioelectromagnetics Association, 30(3) (2009) 222-230.
[5] Q. Balzano, RF nonlinear interactions in living cells–II: Detection methods for spectral signatures, Bioelectromagnetics: Journal of the Bioelectromagnetics Society, The Society for Physical Regulation in Biology and Medicine, The European Bioelectromagnetics Association, 24(7) (2003) 483-488.
[6] Q. Balzano, A. Sheppard, RF nonlinear interactions in living cells–I: nonequilibrium thermodynamic theory, Bioelectromagnetics: Journal of the Bioelectromagnetics Society, The Society for Physical Regulation in Biology and Medicine, The European Bioelectromagnetics Association, 24(7) (2003) 473-482.
[7] J. Juutilainen, A. Höytö, T. Kumlin, J. Naarala, Review of possible modulation‐dependent biological effects of radiofrequency fields, Bioelectromagnetics, 32(7) (2011) 511-534.
[8] S. Bawin, L. Kaczmarek, W. Adey, Effects of modulated VHF fields on the central nervous system, Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 247(1) (1975) 74-81.
[9] C. Blackman, J. Elder, C. Weil, S. Benane, D. Eichinger, D. House, Induction of calcium‐ion efflux from brain tissue by radio‐frequency radiation: Effects of modulation frequency and field strength, Radio Science, 14(6S) (1979) 93-98.
[10] T. Nikolova, J. Czyz, A. Rolletschek, P. Blyszczuk, J.r. Fuchs, G. Jovtchev, J.r. Schuderer, N. Kuster, A.M. Wobus, Electromagnetic fields affect transcript levels of apoptosis-related genes in embryonic stem cell-derived neural progenitor cells, The FASEB journal, 19(12) (2005) 1686-1688.
[11] E. Markovà, L.O. Malmgren, I.Y. Belyaev, Microwaves from mobile phones inhibit 53BP1 focus formation in human stem cells more strongly than in differentiated cells: possible mechanistic link to cancer risk, Environmental Health Perspectives, 118(3) (2009) 394-399.
[12] D. Shahbazi-Gahrouei, B. Hashemi-Beni, Z. Ahmadi, Effects of RF-EMF exposure from GSM mobile phones on proliferation rate of human adipose-derived stem cells: An in-vitro study, Journal of biomedical physics & engineering, 6(4) (2016) 243.
[13] A. Ahlbom, U. Bergqvist, J. Bernhardt, J. Cesarini, M. Grandolfo, M. Hietanen, A. Mckinlay, M. Repacholi, D.H. Sliney, J.A. Stolwijk, Guidelines for limiting exposure to time-varying electric, magnetic, and electromagnetic fields (up to 300 GHz), Health physics, 74(4) (1998) 494-521.
[14] M. Saviz, I. Tavakolnia, A. Banaei, M. shakiba-Herfeh, A. Barzegari, R. Faraji-Dana, Design and fabrication of a dual-polarization waveguide applicator for bioelectromagnetic experiments in the GSM frequency band, in:  2nd Iranian Conference on Bioelectromagnetics, Tehran, Iran, 2013.
[15] L.Y. Sun, D.K. Hsieh, P.C. Lin, H.T. Chiu, T.W. Chiou, Pulsed electromagnetic fields accelerate proliferation and osteogenic gene expression in human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells during osteogenic differentiation, Bioelectromagnetics: Journal of the Bioelectromagnetics Society, The Society for Physical Regulation in Biology and Medicine, The European Bioelectromagnetics Association, 31(3) (2010) 209-219.
[16] S. Mayer‐Wagner, A. Passberger, B. Sievers, J. Aigner, B. Summer, T.S. Schiergens, V. Jansson, P.E. Müller, Effects of low frequency electromagnetic fields on the chondrogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells, Bioelectromagnetics, 32(4) (2011) 283-290.
[17] N Jooyan, B Goliaei, B Bigdeli, R Faraji-Dana, A Zamani, M Entezami, S M J Mortazavi. Direct and indirect eff ects of exposure to 900 MHz GSM radiofrequency electromagnetic fields on CHO cell line: Evidence of bystander effect by non-ionizing radiation. Environmental Research 174 (2019) 176–187
[18] M Durdik, P Kosik, E Markova, A Somsedikova, B Gajdosechova, E nikitina, E Horvathova, K Kozics, D Davis & I Belyaev. Microwaves from mobile phone induce reactive oxygen species but not DnA damage, preleukemic fusion genes and apoptosis in hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells. Scientific RepoRtS. 9(1) (2019) 16182.
[19] M.L. Pall, Electromagnetic fields act via activation of voltage‐gated calcium channels to produce beneficial or adverse effects, Journal of cellular and molecular medicine, 17(8) (2013) 958-965.
[20] V. S. Rao, I. A. Titushkin, E. G. Moros, W. F. Pickard, H. S. Thatte, et. al. Nonthermal Effects of Radiofrequency-Field Exposure on Calcium Dynamics in Stem Cell-Derived Neuronal Cells: Elucidation of Calcium Pathways. RADIATION RESEARCH 169, (2008), 319–329.
[21] Martin L. Pall. Wi-Fi is an important threat to human health. Environmental Research 164, 405–416 (2018)
AUT Journal of Electrical Engineering
Volume 52, Issue 1
June 2020
Pages 3-8

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics