Changes in cellular Proteins due to environmental Non-ionising radiation

Kwee S, Raskmark P, Velizarov P.

Electro- and Magnetobiology 20: 141-152, 2001

I. HEAT-SHOCK PROTEINS.

This paper describes the effect of weak microwave fields on the amounts of heat-shock proteins in cell cultures at various temperatures. The field was generated by signal simulation of the Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) of 960 Mhz, used in portable phones.

Transformed human epithelial amnion (AMA) cells, growing on glass coverslips, were exposed in a transverse electromagnetic (TEM) cell to a microwave field, generating a specific absorption rate (SAR) of 2.1 mW/kg in the cells. Exposure temperatures were 35, 37, and 40 ± 0.1 degrees C, respectively, and the exposure time was 20 min.

The heat-shock proteins Hsp-70 and Hsp-27 were detected by immuno-fluorescence. Higher amounts of Hsp-70 were present in the cells exposed at 35 and 37 degree C than in the sham-exposed cells.

These effects can be considered to be athermal, since the field strength was much lower than the safety standard for absence of heat generation by microwave fields. There was no significant response in the case of Hsp-27.