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Modulation of heat shock protein response in SH-SY5Y by mobile phone microwaves
Emanuele Calabrò1, Salvatore Condello, Monica Currò
1Emanuele Calabrò, Salvatore Magazù, Department of Physics, University of Messina, 98166 Messina, Italy.
Aim:
To investigate putative biological damage caused by GSM mobile phone frequencies by assessing electromagnetic fields during mobile phone working.
Methods:
Neuron-like cells, obtained by retinoic-acid-induced differentiation of human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells, were exposed for 2 h and 4 h to microwaves at 1800 MHz frequency bands.
Results:
Cell stress response was evaluated by MTT assay as well as changes in the heat shock protein expression (Hsp20, Hsp27 and Hsp70) and caspase-3 activity levels, as biomarkers of apoptotic pathway. Under our experimental conditions, neither cell viability nor Hsp27 expression nor caspase-3 activity was significantly changed. Interestingly, a significant decrease in Hsp20 expression was observed at both times of exposure, whereas Hsp70 levels were significantly increased only after 4 h exposure.
Conclusion:
The modulation of the expression of Hsps in neuronal cells can be an early response to radiofrequency microwaves.
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