Non-thermal disruption of β-adrenergic receptor-activated Ca2+ signalling and apoptosis in human ES-derived cardiomyocytes by microwave electric fields at 2.4 GHz

Williams, Catrin F. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8619-2581, Hather, Catherine, Conteh, Jainaba Sallah, Zhang, Jingjing, Popa, Raluca G., Owen, Anthony W., Jonas, Cara L., Choi, Heungjae ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1108-293X, Daniel, Rhian M. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5649-9320, Lloyd, David ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5656-0571, Porch, Adrian ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5293-8883 and George, Christopher H. 2023. Non-thermal disruption of β-adrenergic receptor-activated Ca2+ signalling and apoptosis in human ES-derived cardiomyocytes by microwave electric fields at 2.4 GHz. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 661 , pp. 89-98. 10.1016/j.bbrc.2023.04.038

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Abstract

The ubiquity of wireless electronic-device connectivity has seen microwaves emerge as one of the fastest growing forms of electromagnetic exposure. A growing evidence-base refutes the claim that wireless technologies pose no risk to human health at current safety levels designed to limit thermal (heating) effects. The potential impact of non-thermal effects of microwave exposure, especially in electrically-excitable tissues (e.g., heart), remains controversial. We exposed human embryonic stem-cell derived cardiomyocytes (CM), under baseline and beta-adrenergic receptor (β-AR)-stimulated conditions, to microwaves at 2.4 GHz, a frequency used extensively in wireless communication (e.g., 4G, Bluetooth™ and WiFi). To control for any effect of sample heating, experiments were done in CM subjected to matched rates of direct heating or CM maintained at 37 °C. Detailed profiling of the temporal and amplitude features of Ca2+ signalling in CM under these experimental conditions was reconciled with the extent and spatial clustering of apoptosis. The data show that exposure of CM to 2.4 GHz EMF eliminated the normal Ca2+ signalling response to β-AR stimulation and provoked spatially-clustered apoptosis. This is first evidence that non-thermal effects of 2.4 GHz microwaves might have profound effects on human CM function, responsiveness to activation, and survival.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Published Online
Status:	Published
Schools:	Engineering Biosciences
Publisher:	Elsevier
ISSN:	0006-291X
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	25 April 2023
Date of Acceptance:	15 April 2023
Last Modified:	18 May 2023 02:40
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/159039

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