Effect of 900 MHz radiofrequency radiation on bone tissue and osteoblast senescence in mice
- VernacularTitle:900 MHz射频辐射对小鼠骨组织及成骨细胞衰老的影响
- Author:
Weijin ZOU
1
;
Haiying WANG
1
;
Chunyu YANG
2
;
Yi CAO
1
Author Information
- Publication Type:Experiment
- Keywords: 900 MHz radiofrequency radiation; bone tissue; osteoblast; aging; bone metabolism; window effect
- From: Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2026;43(2):230-241
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
- Abstract: Background 900 MHz radiofrequency radiation (RF) is a commonly used frequency in modern wireless communication devices, and its potential health effects have drawn much attention, especially its impact on bone metabolism, which has not been fully clarified. Objective To investigate the effects of 900 MHz RF on the bone tissue and osteoblast senescence of mice, as well as the dose-effect relationship. Methods In vivo, 3-month-old female C57BL/6 mice were divided into five groups (n=10): sham exposure, low-dose RF (50 μW·cm−2), medium-dose RF (150 μW·cm−2), high-dose RF (450 μW·cm−2), and D-galactose positive control (D-gal). Treatments were administered for 4 h per day for 28 d. Bone mineral density (BMD) and microstructure, including bone volume (BV), tissue volume (TV), bone volume fraction (BV/TV), trabecular number (Tb.N), trabecular separation (Tb.Sp), and trabecular thickness (Tb.Th), were assessed by Micro-CT; bone morphology was examined after hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining; osteoprotegerin (OPG) and receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-κΒ ligand (RANKL) expression was detected by immunohistochemistry; serum OPG, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b (TRACP-5b), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 15 (CXCL15) levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA); mRNA expression of Tp53, Cdkn1a, and Cdkn2a in bone tissue was analyzed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). In vitro, MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblasts were grouped into sham, low-dose RF (50 μW·cm−2), medium-dose RF (150 μW·cm−2), high-dose RF (450 μW·cm−2), and H2O2 control, groups, and were exposed for 4 h per day for 5 d. Cell morphology was observed by microscopy; viability was tested by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8); senescence was evaluated by senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal) staining; P53 and P21 protein expression was detected by Western blot; Tp53 and Cdkn1a mRNA levels were measured by RT-PCR. Results In vivo, RF at each dose significantly reduced the BMD of the mice's femurs and the bone microstructure parameters, such as BV/TV, Tb.N, and Tb.Th (P<0.05). Among them, Tb.Sp only increased in the 150 μW·cm−2 RF group (P<0.05), with a looser bone network; fewer, sparser trabeculae and increased marrow fat were observed after HE staining; down-regulated OPG and up-regulated RANKL expression levels were observed by immunohistochemistry; the ELISA test revealed that the serum OPG levels in the 150 μW·cm−2 RF group and the 450 μW·cm−2 RF group of mice were significantly decreased (P<0.05), while the indicator in the 50 μW·cm−2 RF group showed a decreasing trend but the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05), TRACP-5b rose, and PAI-1, IL-6, and CXCL15 levels increased (P<0.05); the RT-PCR results showed thatTp53, Cdkn1a, and Cdkn2a mRNA expression was upregulated (P<0.05). In vitro, radiofrequency radiation induced cell flattening, reduced viability (P<0.05), increased SA-β-gal-positive cells (P<0.05), and upregulated P53, P21, Tp53, and Cdkn1a expression (P<0.05). Conclusion 900 MHz RF disrupts bone metabolism in mice by inhibiting bone formation, promoting resorption, and inducing osteoblast senescence, accelerating bone aging. The 150 μW·cm−2 RF dose exhibits the most pronounced effect, reflecting a nonlinear “window effect,” highlighting potential health risks.
