Inhibition of a DNA repair enzyme, OGG1, results in increased free radicals concentration and oxidative damage to Neuro-2a cells as a result of 900 MHz EMF exposure.

PMID: 

Cell Physiol Biochem. 2015 ;37(3):1075-88. Epub 2015 Sep 25. PMID: 26401913

Abstract Title: 

8-oxoG DNA glycosylase-1 inhibition sensitizes Neuro-2a cells to oxidative DNA base damage induced by 900 MHz radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation.

Abstract: 

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The purpose of this study was to explore the in vitro putative genotoxicity during exposure of Neuro-2a cells to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMFs) with or without silencing of 8-oxoG DNA glycosylase-1 (OGG1).METHODS: Neuro-2a cells treated with or without OGG1 siRNA were exposed to 900 MHz Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) Talk signals continuously at a specific absorption rate (SAR) of 0, 0.5, 1 or 2 W/kg for 24 h. DNA strand breakage and DNA base damage were measured by the alkaline comet assay and a modified comet assay using formamidopyrimidine DNA glycosylase (FPG), respectively. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and cell viability were monitored using the non-fluorescent probe 2, 7-dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) and CCK-8 assay.RESULTS: Exposure to 900 MHz RF-EMFs with insufficient energy could induce oxidative DNA base damage in Neuro-2a cells. These increases were concomitant with similar increases in the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Without OGG1 siRNA, 2 W/kg RF-EMFs induced oxidative DNA base damage in Neuro-2a cells. Interestingly, with OGG1 siRNA, RF-EMFs could cause DNA base damage in Neuro-2a cells as low as 1 W/kg. However, neither DNA strand breakage nor altered cell viability was observed.CONCLUSION: Even if further studies remain conducted we support the hypothesis that OGG1 is involved in the process of DNA base repair and may play a pivotal role in protecting DNA bases from RF-EMF induced oxidative damage.

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