A new study supported by the Indian Council of Medical Research New Delhi, India, and University Grant Commission , Govt. of India entitled “Effect of mobile phone signal radiation on epigenetic modulation in the hippocampus of Wistar rat” has been published in Environmental Research and found mobile phone signal radiation induced epigenetic modulation in the hippocampus of rats. The researchers found DNA and Histone methylation induction. 96 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 12 groups (Sham exposed, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz and 2450 MHz, each for one-month, three-month and six-month respectively.
Findings: “Alteration in epigenetic modulation was observed in the hippocampus. Global DNA methylation was decreased and histone methylation was increased in the hippocampus. We observed that microwave exposure led to significant epigenetic modulations in the hippocampus with increasing frequency and duration of exposure. Microwave exposure with increasing frequency and exposure duration brings significant (p < 0.05) epigenetic modulations which alters gene expression in the hippocampus.”
Kumar R, Deshmukh PS, Sharma S, Banerjee BD. Effect of mobile phone signal radiation on epigenetic modulation in the hippocampus of Wistar rat. Environ Res. 2020 Oct 7;192:110297. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.110297. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 33035560.
Excerpts from the article
“We previously reported that radiofrequency microwave exposure of rat to 900–2450 MHz for one to six month exposure induces cognitive impairment. In this study, we extended our observations by elucidating whether radiofrequency microwave exposure induces epigenetic modulations with augmented levels of methyltransferase (DNMT1 and EHMT1) enzymes in the hippocampus compared to sham-exposed rats. Being hippocampus is crucially involved in learning, memory, and behavior, microwave-induced epigenetic modifications of the hippocampus more likely the causative factor.”
“Our prior study reported that mobile phone signal exposure impairs cognitive functions (Deshmukh et al., 2015), heat shock protein modulation (Deshmukh et al., 2012), neurotransmitter alteration (Megha et al., 2015b), oxidative stress (Alkis et al., 2019b; Megha et al., 2012), and ER-stress in rat brain (Kumar et al., 2019), prompted us to speculate that above said changes in neuronal development and behavior crucially driven by epigenetic modulations. We explored our speculation in the present study by evaluating whether mobile phone signal exposure (900–2450 MHz) modulate DNA/histone methylating enzymes and DNA/histone methylation in the hippocampus of Wistar rat. Mobile phone radiofrequency microwave radiation led to significant fold change in euchromatic histone methyltransferase1 EHMT1 (Fig. 1), DNA methyltransferase1 DNMT1 (Fig. 2) enzyme as apparent by hypermethylation of histone, H3K9 (Fig. 3) and hypomethylation of DNA, 5-mC (Fig. 4) at selected mobile phone signal radiofrequency microwave.”
“Conclusion: In summary, 900–2450 MHz for 2 h daily for one-month, three-month and six-month exposure led to hypermethylation of histone (H3K9) protein by upregulating euchromatic histone methyltransferase1 enzyme, whereas hypomethylation of DNA (5-Mc) by downregulating DNA methyltransferase1 enzyme with increasing microwave frequency as well as exposure duration of Wistar rat. Band 3 (1800 MHz) is widely used frequency band for communication. Higher frequency corresponds to higher energy, hence more adverse effect than 900 MHz frequency but lower than 2450 MHz, which we also observed in this study in the form of epigenetic modulations, gene expression as well as in protein expression in experimental Wistar rats. We found maximum bio-molecular alteration in six-month exposure group at 2450 MHz frequency, as it possesses maximum energy. Higher frequency and longer duration of exposure responsible for the larger changes in bio-molecular characteristics. Hence 2450 MHz frequency for six month of exposure is the most effective frequency and duration to impart health hazards. The result may deliver insight into the pathway of cognitive impairment induced by mobile phone signal radiofrequency, which may be useful for assessment of mobile phone radiation risk in mental health and setting guidelines for policy makers.”
Effect of mobile phone signal radiation on epigenetic modulation in the hippocampus of Wistar rat
Abstract
Exponential increase in mobile phone uses, given rise to public concern regarding the alleged deleterious health hazards as a consequence of prolonged exposure. In 2018, the U.S. National toxicology program reported, two year toxicological studies for potential health hazards from exposure to cell phone radiations. Epigenetic modulations play a critical regulatory role in many cellular functions and pathological conditions. In this study, we assessed the dose-dependent and frequency-dependent epigenetic modulation (DNA and Histone methylation) in the hippocampus of Wistar rats. A Total of 96 male Wistar rats were segregated into 12 groups exposed to 900 MHz, 1800 MHz and 2450 MHz RF-MW at a specific absorption rate (SAR) of 5.84 × 10-4 W/kg, 5.94 × 10-4 W/kg and 6.4 × 10-4 W/kg respectively for 2 h per day for 1-month, 3-month and 6-month periods. At the end of the exposure duration, animals were sacrificed to collect the hippocampus. Global hippocampal DNA methylation and histone methylation were estimated by ELISA. However, DNA methylating enzymes, DNA methyltransferase1 (DNMT1) and histone methylating enzymes euchromatic histone methylthransferase1 (EHMT1) expression was evaluated by real-time PCR, as well as further validated with Western blot. Alteration in epigenetic modulation was observed in the hippocampus. Global DNA methylation was decreased and histone methylation was increased in the hippocampus. We observed that microwave exposure led to significant epigenetic modulations in the hippocampus with increasing frequency and duration of exposure. Microwave exposure with increasing frequency and exposure duration brings significant (p < 0.05) epigenetic modulations which alters gene expression in the hippocampus.
