Stress proteins are not induced in mammalian cells exposed to radiofrequency or microwave radiation.

Cleary SF, Cao G, Liu LM, Egle PM, Shelton KR,

Bioelectromagnetics 18(7):499-505, 1997

The induction of stress proteins in HeLa and CHO cells was investigated following a 2 h exposure to radiofrequency (RF) or microwave radiation. Cells were exposed or sham exposed in vitro under isothermal (37 +/- 0.2 degrees C) conditions.

HeLa cells were exposed to 27- or 2450 MHz continuous wave (CW) radiation at a specific absorption rate (SAR) of 25 W/kg. CHO cells were exposed to CW 27 MHz radiation at a SAR of 100 W/kg. Parallel positive control studies included 2 h exposure of HeLa or CHO cells to 40 degrees C or to 45 microM cadmium sulfate.

Stress protein induction was assayed 24 h after treatment by electrophoresis of whole-cell extracted protein labeled with [35S]-methionine. Both cell types exhibited well-characterized responses to the positive control stresses.

Under these exposure conditions, neither microwave nor RF radiation had a detectable effect on stress protein induction as determined by either comparison of RF-exposed cells with sham-exposed cells or comparison with heat-stressed or Cd++ positive control cells.