One of the teams contributing to Project GOLIAT is based at the IMS Laboratory (Integration from Material to System Laboratory) at the University of Bordeaux, France. Their research focuses on investigating the potential biological effects of radiofrequency (RF) fields from wireless communications at the cellular and molecular levels.
The IMS team involved in tasks 4.2, 5.1 and 5.2: from left to right: Rosa Orlacchio, Patricia Nabos, Isabelle Lagroye, Yann Percherancier, Lena Serradeill and Florence Poulletier de Gannes.
The team’s research involves in vitro cell models and in vivo animal models. Within GOLIAT, the IMS is coordinating WP 5 “Thermoregulation and radical stress: biological effects of 5G”. The team is also actively involved in WP4 “Brain function: biological and neuropsychological effects of 5G” and is working closely with WP3 researchers to set up the exposure systems.
WP4
For WP4, IMS is carrying out tasks 4.1.2 and 4.2.1 as described below. The aim is to determine the causal biological and psychological effects of 5G RF fields on brain activity and behaviour through in vitro and in vivo experiments.
Task 4.1.2 Other functional endpoints in brain cells
In this task, the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial functionality as well as other endpoints such as astrocyte proliferation will be measured in cultured human SH-SY-5Y neuroblastoma cells and human astrocytes exposed to a 5G signal at 0.7 and 3.5 GHz.
Changes in such biological parameters may be related to possible behavioural effects.
Scheme and photo of the experimental design used to expose cultured cells to a 5G signal at 700 MHz, consisting of 3 transverse electromagnetic (TEM) cells, allowing to randomly test 3 exposure levels (0, 0.08 and 4 W/kg) simultaneously. The temperature increase (up to 1.3°C) due to RF-EMF exposure is compensated by adjusting the incubator temperature so that the temperature in the incubator is around 36.0°C-37.0°C.
Task 4.2.1. Behavioural and cognitive effects in young developmentally exposed mice
This task will be performed in collaboration with Bruno Bontempi, CNRS. In this task, freely moving mice will be exposed in utero to a 5G signal at 3.5 GHz and then whole body exposed for 4 weeks after birth. The exposure to 5G RF fields will be performed at the IMS. Behavioural phenotyping of sham-exposed or 5G-exposed mice will be performed at adulthood, at 8 weeks of age. Mice will be subjected to a validated battery of tests tailored to assess 6 behavioural domains as described below. If adverse or beneficial effects are observed, additional behavioural models will be considered to confirm the results. Finally, brain tissue will be analysed to determine the neurofunctional signature of the observed behavioural changes (e.g. expression of neuronal activity or plasticity markers).
The behavioral test battery that will be used to examine the effects of 5G-exposure in mice. Example of behavioral domains and related paradigms are shown. Independent groups of mice will be exposed to 3 exposure levels (0.08, 0.4 and 4 W/kg) during development (pregnancy plus 4 weeks) prior to sequential testing in each paradigm at the adult age of 8 weeks.
WP5
The aim of WP5 is to estimate the causal biological effects of 5G RF fields on thermoregulation and radical stress using in vitro, in vivo, human and in silico experiments. In WP5, IMS will perform the following tasks 5.1.1, 5.1.2, 5.2.1 and 5.2.2.
Task 5.1.1. In vitro thermoregulation
Although guidelines protect us from any thermal effects, it is still debated whether our body’s thermosensors could be affected by RF exposure. Using innovative bioluminescent probes that target thermosensitive ion channels involved in our thermal sensation, researchers in the IMS laboratory are shedding light on the potential impact of 5G signal on thermosensation at the molecular level. Using innovative Bioluminescence Resonance Energy Transfer (BRET) probes expressed in skin cell lines, we will assess whether 5G exposure affects the activity of cold, warm and/or hot-sensing ion channels called TRP channels. To this end, close collaboration has been established with other teams involved in WP5 who have complementary expertise in assessing the potential effects of 5G on thermosensitive TRP ion channels using either patch-clamp electrophysiology or molecular dynamics.
The experimental design used to measure the BRET signal associated with TRP ion channel activity under exposure to 5G radiofrequency fields will include precise temperature control to ensure accurate and reliable assessment.
Task 5.1.2. Thermoregulation in vivo
The presence of TRPM8 receptors involved in thermoregulation will be assessed in the adipose tissue of mice. Freely moving mice will be whole body exposed to 3.5 GHz at 5 weeks of age and for 4 weeks in reverberation chambers provided in WP3.
Task 5.2.1. Radical stress and related endpoints in vitro
In this task we will measure radical stress in a human skin fibroblast cell line. Radical stress pathways and the pro/antioxidant balance will be investigated using ROS pathway specific gene arrays (84 genes).
Task 5.2.2. Radical stress and related endpoints in young rodents
Using the reverberation chambers mentioned above, we will assess several biomarkers of oxidative stress in mouse skin, including ROS production, lipid peroxidation, DNA oxidation, expression of antioxidant enzymes, apoptosis and mitochondrial metabolism.
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