60 GHz electromagnetic fields do not activate stress-sensitive gene expression

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine whether millimeter waves exposure at 60GHz, upcoming to use for indoor high rate communications in local area networks, could lead to a stress response in human brain cells. U-251 MG cell line was sham-exposed or exposed to low power density millimeter radiation for different duration, from 1h to 33h. Using the transfection technique, we analyzed the gene expression for reporter genes previously shown highly sensitive to many environmental insults. We have tested the influence of 60GHz radiations on 3 different gene expression systems, overlaying the main cellular response pathways to physical and chemical stresses. No statistically significant difference was detected in transcriptional activity of reporter genes after radiation exposure. These results suggest that radiation in the frequency range around 60GHz is not a stressor strong enough to modify the stress-sensitive gene expression.