Non thermal effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic waves on olfactory ensheathing cells

The influence of low-intensity, so not inducing thermal effects, RF-EMFs on Olfactory Ensheathing Cell (OEC) cultures, typical glia cells showing characteristics of stem cells, was investigated. Cell cultures were exposed, in far-field condition, at 900 MHz continuous and amplitude modulated EMFs for 10, 15 and 20 min, by maintaining their temperature at 37°C. The expression of OEC marker (S-100), stem cell marker (Nestin), cytoskeletal proteins (GFAP and Vimentin), apoptotic pathway activation by Caspase-3 cleavage and cell viability, were evaluated. Results showed that the exposure to continuous or amplitude modulated radio-frequency electromagnetic fields induces different effects in Olfactory Ensheathing cell viability and in expression level of markers that play a role in cell self-renewal.