Electromagnetic fields at a mobile phone frequency (900 MHz) trigger the onset of general stress response along with DNA modifications in Eisenia fetida earthworms

  • Jean-Paul Bourdineaud University of Bordeaux CNRS, Fundamental Microbiology and Pathogenicity Laboratory European Institute of Chemistry and Biology
  • Maja Šrut Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, University of Zagreb
  • Anamaria Štambuk Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, University of Zagreb
  • Mirta Tkalec Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, University of Zagreb
  • Daniel Brèthes Institute of Cell Biochemistry and Genetics, UMR 5095, CNRS, University of Bordeaux
  • Krešimir Malarić Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing, University of Zagreb
  • Goran I. V. Klobučar Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, University of Zagreb
Keywords: field modulation, genotoxicity, HSP70, immune defence, RAPD, oxidative stress

Abstract

Eisenia fetida earthworms were exposed to electromagnetic field (EMF) at a mobile phone frequency (900 MHz) and at field levels ranging from 10 to 120 V m-1 for a period of two hours (corresponding to specific absorption rates ranging from 0.13 to 9.33 mW kg-1). Potential effects of longer exposure (four hours), field modulation, and a recovery period of 24 h after two hours of exposure were addressed at the field level of 23 V m-1. All exposure treatments induced significant DNA modifications as assessed by a quantitative random amplified polymorphic DNA-PCR. Even after 24 h of recovery following a two hour-exposure, the number of probe hybridisation sites displayed a significant two-fold decrease as compared to untreated control earthworms, implying a loss of hybridisation sites and a persistent genotoxic effect of EMF. Expression of genes involved in the response to general stress (HSP70 encoding the 70 kDa heat shock protein, and MEKK1 involved in signal transduction), oxidative stress (CAT, encoding catalase), and chemical and immune defence (LYS, encoding lysenin, and MYD, encoding a myeloid differentiation factor) were up-regulated after exposure to 10 and modulated 23 V m-1 field levels. Western blots showing an increased quantity of HSP70 and MTCO1 proteins confirmed this stress response. HSP70 and LYS genes were up-regulated after 24 h of recovery following a two hour-exposure, meaning that the effect of EMF exposure lasted for hours.

Published
2017-06-02
How to Cite
1.
Bourdineaud J-P, Šrut M, Štambuk A, Tkalec M, Brèthes D, Malarić K, Klobučar GIV. Electromagnetic fields at a mobile phone frequency (900 MHz) trigger the onset of general stress response along with DNA modifications in Eisenia fetida earthworms. Arh Hig Rada Toksikol [Internet]. 2017Jun.2 [cited 2024Mar.28];68(2). Available from: https://arhiv.imi.hr/index.php/arhiv/article/view/697
Section
Original article