Abstract
The use of smartphones is expanding rapidly around the world, thus raising the concern of possible harmful effects of radiofrequency generated by smartphones. We hypothesized that Wi-Fi signals from smartphones may have harmful influence on adiposederived stem cells (ASCs). An in vitro study was performed to assess the influence of Wi-Fi signals from smartphones. The ASCs were incubated under a smartphone connected to a Wi-Fi network, which was uploading files at a speed of 4.8 Mbps for 10 hours a day, for a total of 5 days. We constructed 2 kinds of control cells, one grown in 37°C and the other grown in 39°C. After 5 days of Wi-Fi exposure from the smartphone, the cells underwent cell proliferation assay, apoptosis assay, and flow cytometry analysis. Three growth factors, vascular endothelial growth factor, hepatocyte growth factor, and transforming growth factor-β, were measured from ASC-conditioned media. Cell proliferation rate was higher in Wi-Fi-exposed cells and 39°C control cells compared with 37°C control cells. Apoptosis assay, flow cytometry analysis, and growth factor concentrations showed no remarkable differences among the 3 groups. We could not find any harmful effects of Wi-Fi electromagnetic signals from smartphones. The increased proliferation of ASCs under the smartphone, however, might be attributable to the thermal effect.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1902-1907 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Journal of Craniofacial Surgery |
Volume | 25 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2014 |
Keywords
- Adipose-derived stem cell
- Apoptosis
- Electromagnetic
- Growth factor
- Proliferation
- Smartphone
- Wi-Fi
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Surgery
- Otorhinolaryngology