The effect of exposure to radiofrequency LTE signal and coexposure to mitomycin‐C in Chinese hamster lung fibroblast V79 cells

This study aims to investigate the cellular effects of radiofrequency exposure, 1950 MHz, long‐term evolution (LTE) signal, administered alone and in combination with mitomycin‐C (MMC), a well‐known cytotoxic agent. Chinese hamster lung fibroblast (V79) cells were exposed/sham exposed in a waveguide‐based system under strictly controlled conditions of both electromagnetic and environmental parameters, at specific absorption rate (SAR) of 0.3 and 1.25 W/kg. Chromosomal damage (micronuclei formation), oxidative stress (reactive oxygen species [ROS] formation), and cell cycle progression were analyzed after exposure and coexposure. No differences between exposed samples and sham‐controls were detected following radiofrequency exposure alone, for all the experimental conditions tested and biological endpoints investigated. When radiofrequency exposure was followed by MMC treatment, 3 h pre‐exposure did not modify MMC‐induced micronuclei. Pre‐exposure of 20 h at 0.3 W/kg did not modify the number of micronuclei induced by MMC, while 1.25 W/kg resulted in a significant reduction of MMC‐induced damage. Absence of effects was also detected when CW was used, at both SAR levels. MMC‐induced ROS formation resulted significantly decreased at both SAR levels investigated, while cell proliferation and cell cycle progression were not affected by coexposures. The results here reported provide no evidence of direct effects of 1950 MHz, LTE signal. Moreover, they further support our previous findings on the capability of radiofrequency pre‐exposure to induce protection from a subsequent toxic treatment, and the key role of the modulated signals and the experimental conditions adopted in eliciting the effect. Highlights A cytotoxicity study in Chinese hamster lung fibroblasts exposed to 1950 MHz 4G LTE signal is presented. RF exposure alone does not induce DNA damage, ROS formation, and cell cycle progression under the experimental conditions adopted. RF pre‐exposure reduces the MMC‐induced DNA damage and ROS formation under selected experimental conditions. CW exposure does not exert any variation in both RF exposure and co‐exposure protocols highlighting the key role of modulated signal in interacting with mammalian cells.