Effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic field exposure on neuronal differentiation and mitochondrial function in SH-SY5Y cells.

von Niederhäusern, Nicole (2019). Effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic field exposure on neuronal differentiation and mitochondrial function in SH-SY5Y cells. (Unpublished). (Dissertation, Vetsuisse)

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Exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) has largely increased in the last decades with expanding use of mobile phones worldwide. The aim of this study was to evaluate effects of RF-EMF on neuronal differentiation and underlying signaling pathways involved in neuronal differentiation, neurodegeneration, and mitochondrial function.
Differentiation of SH-SY5Y cells was performed using all-trans retinoid acid or staurosporine to obtain cholinergic and dopaminergic neurons.
Exposure of SH-SY5Y cells at 935 MHz to a specific absorption rate (SAR) of 4 W/kg for 24 hours did not alter the neuronal phenotypes, namely cholinergic and dopaminergic, quantitively. Markers of the signaling pathways involved in neuronal differentiation and neurodegeneration including the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK), Akt/GSK3β and Wnt/β-catenin were not significantly affected by RF-EMF when compared to sham exposure. RF-EMF impaired mitochondrial respiration in cells under glucose deprivation, whereas the markers for mitochondrial fission and fusion were not altered. These findings indicate that RF-EMF leads to an impairment of mitochondrial function that is only manifest at maximal respiration and additional stressors such as glucose deprivation.
Further research is needed to investigate the effects of RF-EMF on mitochondrial function in detail because mitochondrial impairment is closely related to the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases.

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