HarmLow evidencePaper 32

Exposure to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields Enhances Melanin Synthesis by Activating the P53

Keywords

#radiofrequency electromagnetic fields #RF-EMF #1760 MHz #specific absorption rate #SAR 4.0 W/kg #melanogenesis #melanin #hyperpigmentation #CREB phosphorylation #MITF #tyrosinase #p53 #MC1R #non-thermal effects #melanocytes #Mel-Ab

Study snapshot

PublicationInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences · 2024

Study typein_vitro

Reported directionHarm

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Exposure to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields Enhances Melanin Synthesis by Activating the P53 Signaling Pathway in Mel-Ab Melanocytes Kim JH, Kang D-J, Seok JY, Kim M-H, Kim D-S, Jeon S-B, Choi H-D, Moon JI, Kim N, Kim HR. Exposure to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields Enhances Melanin Synthesis by Activating the P53 Signaling Pathway in Mel-Ab Melanocytes. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2024; 25(22):12457. doi.org Abstract The skin is the largest body organ that can be physiologically affected by exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMFs). We investigated the effect of RF-EMFs on melanogenesis; Mel-Ab melanocytes were exposed to 1760 MHz radiation with a specific absorption rate of 4.0 W/kg for 4 h/day over 4 days. Exposure to the RF-EMF led to skin pigmentation, with a significant increase in melanin production in Mel-Ab melanocytes. The phosphorylation level of cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) and the expression of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), which regulate the expression of tyrosinase, were significantly increased in Mel-Ab after RF-EMF exposure. Interestingly, the expression of tyrosinase was significantly increased, but tyrosinase activity was unchanged in the RF-EMF-exposed Mel-Ab cells. Additionally, the expression of p53 and melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R), which regulate MITF expression, was significantly increased. These results suggest that the RF-EMF induces melanogenesis by increasing phospho-CREB and MITF activity. Importantly, when Mel-Ab cells were incubated at 38 °C, the melanin production and the levels of tyrosinase significantly decreased, indicating that the increase in melanin synthesis by RF-EMF exposure is not due to a thermal effect. In conclusion, RF-EMF exposure induces melanogenesis in Mel-Ab cells through the increased expression of tyrosinase via the activation of MITF or the phosphorylation of CREB, which are initiated by the activation of p53 and MC1R. Conclusion: In summary, we have shown that 1760 MHz RF-EMF exposure (SAR of 4.0 W/kg for 4 h/d over 4 d) could induce hyperpigmentation by activating the melanin synthesis pathway in Mel-Ab melanocytes, suggesting that skin pigmentation could be affected by RF-EMF exposure in a way that is distinct from simple thermal effects. Open access paper: mdpi.com

Machine Enhanced Logic

AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typein_vitro

Effect directionharm

PopulationMel-Ab melanocytes (cell line)

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureRF · 1760 MHz · 4 W/kg · 4 h/day over 4 days

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Mel-Ab melanocytes exposed to 1760 MHz RF-EMF (SAR 4.0 W/kg; 4 h/day for 4 days) showed a significant increase in melanin production/pigmentation. RF-EMF exposure increased phospho-CREB, MITF, tyrosinase expression, and increased p53 and MC1R expression, while tyrosinase activity was unchanged. Incubation at 38 °C decreased melanin production and tyrosinase levels, which the authors interpret as evidence the RF-EMF effect was not due to heating.

Outcomes measured

Melanin production/pigmentation
Phosphorylation of CREB (phospho-CREB)
MITF expression
Tyrosinase expression
Tyrosinase activity
p53 expression
MC1R expression
Thermal vs non-thermal effect (38 °C incubation comparison)

Limitations

In vitro study in a single melanocyte cell line (Mel-Ab); generalizability to human skin in vivo is unclear
Sample size and replication details not provided in the abstract
Exposure scenario (SAR 4.0 W/kg) may not reflect typical real-world exposures; external validity not described
Mechanistic pathway conclusions are based on expression/phosphorylation changes reported in the abstract; causal mediation not fully established from abstract alone

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "in_vitro",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": 1760,
    "sar_wkg": 4,
    "duration": "4 h/day over 4 days"
  },
  "population": "Mel-Ab melanocytes (cell line)",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Melanin production/pigmentation",
    "Phosphorylation of CREB (phospho-CREB)",
    "MITF expression",
    "Tyrosinase expression",
    "Tyrosinase activity",
    "p53 expression",
    "MC1R expression",
    "Thermal vs non-thermal effect (38 °C incubation comparison)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Mel-Ab melanocytes exposed to 1760 MHz RF-EMF (SAR 4.0 W/kg; 4 h/day for 4 days) showed a significant increase in melanin production/pigmentation. RF-EMF exposure increased phospho-CREB, MITF, tyrosinase expression, and increased p53 and MC1R expression, while tyrosinase activity was unchanged. Incubation at 38 °C decreased melanin production and tyrosinase levels, which the authors interpret as evidence the RF-EMF effect was not due to heating.",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [
    "In vitro study in a single melanocyte cell line (Mel-Ab); generalizability to human skin in vivo is unclear",
    "Sample size and replication details not provided in the abstract",
    "Exposure scenario (SAR 4.0 W/kg) may not reflect typical real-world exposures; external validity not described",
    "Mechanistic pathway conclusions are based on expression/phosphorylation changes reported in the abstract; causal mediation not fully established from abstract alone"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "radiofrequency electromagnetic fields",
    "RF-EMF",
    "1760 MHz",
    "specific absorption rate",
    "SAR 4.0 W/kg",
    "melanogenesis",
    "melanin",
    "hyperpigmentation",
    "CREB phosphorylation",
    "MITF",
    "tyrosinase",
    "p53",
    "MC1R",
    "non-thermal effects",
    "melanocytes",
    "Mel-Ab"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": []
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.3390/ijms252212457
PubMed: Not supplied

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