The Screening of Genes Sensitive to Long-Term, Low-Level Microwave Exposure and Bioinformatic Analysis of Potential Correlations to Learning and Memory

• Published in: Biomedical and environmental sciences 2015-08, Vol.28 (8), p.558-570
• Main Authors: ZHAO, Ya Li, LI, Ying Xian, MA, Hong Bo, LI, Dong, LI, Hai Liang, JIANG, Rui, KAN, Guang Han, YANG, Zhen Zhong, HUANG, Zeng Xin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: and; Animals; chip; Computational Biology; Gene; Gene chip; Gene Expression - radiation effects; Learning; Learning and memory; Long-term; Low-level; Memory; Mice; Microwave; Microwaves; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
• ISSN: 0895-3988; 2214-0190
• DOI: 10.3967/bes2015.080

Objective To gain a better understanding of gene expression changes in the brain following microwave exposure in mice. This study hopes to reveal mechanisms contributing to microwave- induced learning and memory dysfunction. Methods Mice were exposed to whole body 2100 MHz microwaves with specific absorption rates （SARs） of 0.45 W/kg, 2.8 W/kg, and 3.6 W/kg for 2 hour daily for 8 weeks. Differentially expressing genes in the brains were screened using high-density oligonucleotide arrays, with genes showing more significant differences further confirmed by RT-PCR. Results The gene chip results demonstrated that 41 genes （0.45 W/kg group）, 29 genes （2.8 W/kg group）, and 219 genes （3.6 W/kg group} were differentially expressed. GO analysis revealed that these differentially expressed genes were primarily involved in metabolic processes, cellular metabolic processes, regulation of biological processes, macromolecular metabolic processes, biosynthetic processes, cellular protein metabolic processes, transport, developmental processes, cellular component organization, etc. KEGG pathway analysis showed that these genes are mainly involved in pathways related to ribosome, AIzheimer＇s disease, Parkinson＇s disease, long-term potentiation, Huntington＇s disease, and Neurotrophin signaling. Construction of a protein interaction network identified several important regulatory genes including synbindin （sbdn）, Crystallin （CryaB）, PPPICA, Ywhaq, Psap, Psmbl, Pcbp2, etc., which play important roles in the processes of learning and memory. Conclusion Long-term, low-level microwave exposure protein and energy metabolic processes and signaling diseases. may inhibit learning and memory by affecting pathways relating to neurological functions or