Microsatellite analysis for determination of the mutagenicity of extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields and ionising radiation in vitro

Mairs, R.J. et al. (2007) Microsatellite analysis for determination of the mutagenicity of extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields and ionising radiation in vitro. Mutation Research (Genetic Toxicology and Environmental Mutagenesis), 626(1-2), pp. 34-41. (doi: 10.1016/j.mrgentox.2006.08.005)

Abstract

Extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF) have been reported to induce lesions in DNA and to enhance the mutagenicity of ionising radiation. However, the significance of these findings is uncertain because the determination of the carcinogenic potential of EMFs has largely been based on investigations of large chromosomal aberrations. Using a more sensitive method of detecting DNA damage involving microsatellite sequences, we observed that exposure of UVW human glioma cells to ELF-EMF alone at a field strength of 1 mT (50 Hz) for 12 h gave rise to 0.011 multations/locus/cell. This was equivalent to a 3.75-fold increase in mutation induction compared with unexposed controls. Furthermore, ELF-EMF increased the mutagenic capacity of 0.3 and 3 Gy gamma-irradiation by factors of 2.6 and 2.75, respectively. These results suggest not only that ELF-EMF is multagenic as a single agent but also that it can potentiate the multagenicity of ionising radiation. Treatment with 0.3 Gy induced more than 10 times more mutations per unit dose than irradiation with 3 Gy, indicating hyper-mutability at low dose.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Angerson, Dr Wilson and Clark, Dr Andrew and Mairs, Professor Robert and Boyd, Dr Marie
• Authors: Mairs, R.J., Hughes, K., Fitzsimmons, S., Prise, K.M., Livingstone, A., Wilson, L., Baig, N., Clark, A.M., Timpson, A., Patel, G., Folkard, M., Angerson, W.J., and Boyd, M.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Cancer Sciences
• Journal Name: Mutation Research (Genetic Toxicology and Environmental Mutagenesis)
• ISSN: 1383-5718