Environmentally Induced Genomic Instability

A special issue of Genes (ISSN 2073-4425). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Genetics and Genomics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (28 February 2020) | Viewed by 10054

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio Campus, Finland
Interests: radiation biology; cell biology; genomic instability; oxidative stress; epigenetics

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio Campus, Finland
Interests: environmental health; radiation biology; genotoxicity; genomic instability

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Induced genomic instability (IGI) evidently plays a role in environmentally induced cancer. IGI is a concept describing the delayed damage that can be observed many cell generations after exposure in the non-exposed progeny of exposed cells as increased mutation frequency, apoptosis, chromosomal aberrations, micronuclei, and other damage. IGI was originally found in cells exposed to ionizing radiation, but several other chemical and physical agents have been reported to induce genomic instability. In addition to cell cultures, IGI has been observed in animals and even in humans. IGI is initiated and transmitted epigenetically, which refers to heritable changes in the gene expression or in the phenotype that are not attributable to changes in the DNA sequence. Epigenetic mechanisms are considered to include, for example, DNA methylation signature, histone modifications, ubiquitination and sumoylation processes, and non-coding RNAs, but other mechanisms may also exist.

As carcinogenesis requires the accumulation of multiple genetic changes, IGI has a central importance in the development of cancer. However, its health implications may be much wider, as the accumulation of DNA alterations and increased levels of reactive oxygen species—another characteristic of IGI—seem to play key roles in the development of other chronic diseases (e.g., cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases). Although the maintenance of genome stability is crucial for the well-being of higher organisms, IGI has also been seen as a resource for evolution and a mechanism of adaptation.

This Special Issue aims to present novel insights into IGI, including its initiation by different environmental agents, how IGI is transmitted epigenetically, and what kinds of consequences IGI may have in living organisms.

Assoc. Prof. Jonne Naarala
Dr. Mikko Herrala
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • genomic instability
  • induced genomic instability
  • epigenetic
  • cancer
  • environmental agents

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 4492 KiB  
Article
Assessment of Genotoxicity in Human Cells Exposed to Modulated Electromagnetic Fields of Wireless Communication Devices
by David Schuermann, Christina Ziemann, Zeinab Barekati, Myles Capstick, Antje Oertel, Frauke Focke, Manuel Murbach, Niels Kuster, Clemens Dasenbrock and Primo Schär
Genes 2020, 11(4), 347; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes11040347 - 25 Mar 2020
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 5228
Abstract
Modulated electromagnetic fields (wEMFs), as generated by modern communication technologies, have raised concerns about adverse health effects. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies them as “possibly carcinogenic to humans” (Group 2B), yet, the underlying molecular mechanisms initiating and promoting tumorigenesis [...] Read more.
Modulated electromagnetic fields (wEMFs), as generated by modern communication technologies, have raised concerns about adverse health effects. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies them as “possibly carcinogenic to humans” (Group 2B), yet, the underlying molecular mechanisms initiating and promoting tumorigenesis remain elusive. Here, we comprehensively assess the impact of technologically relevant wEMF modulations on the genome integrity of cultured human cells, investigating cell type-specificities as well as time- and dose-dependencies. Classical and advanced methodologies of genetic toxicology and DNA repair were applied, and key experiments were performed in two separate laboratories. Overall, we found no conclusive evidence for an induction of DNA damage nor for alterations of the DNA repair capacity in cells exposed to several wEMF modulations (i.e., GSM, UMTS, WiFi, and RFID). Previously reported observations of increased DNA damage after exposure of cells to GSM-modulated signals could not be reproduced. Experimental variables, presumably underlying the discrepant observations, were investigated and are discussed. On the basis of our data, we conclude that the possible carcinogenicity of wEMF modulations cannot be explained by an effect on genome integrity through direct DNA damage. However, we cannot exclude non-genotoxic, indirect, or secondary effects of wEMF exposure that may promote tumorigenesis in other ways. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmentally Induced Genomic Instability)
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Review

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14 pages, 1320 KiB  
Review
Electromagnetic Fields, Genomic Instability and Cancer: A Systems Biological View
by Jonne Naarala, Mikko Kolehmainen and Jukka Juutilainen
Genes 2019, 10(6), 479; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes10060479 - 25 Jun 2019
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 4408
Abstract
This review discusses the use of systems biology in understanding the biological effects of electromagnetic fields, with particular focus on induction of genomic instability and cancer. We introduce basic concepts of the dynamical systems theory such as the state space and attractors and [...] Read more.
This review discusses the use of systems biology in understanding the biological effects of electromagnetic fields, with particular focus on induction of genomic instability and cancer. We introduce basic concepts of the dynamical systems theory such as the state space and attractors and the use of these concepts in understanding the behavior of complex biological systems. We then discuss genomic instability in the framework of the dynamical systems theory, and describe the hypothesis that environmentally induced genomic instability corresponds to abnormal attractor states; large enough environmental perturbations can force the biological system to leave normal evolutionarily optimized attractors (corresponding to normal cell phenotypes) and migrate to less stable variant attractors. We discuss experimental approaches that can be coupled with theoretical systems biology such as testable predictions, derived from the theory and experimental methods, that can be used for measuring the state of the complex biological system. We also review potentially informative studies and make recommendations for further studies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmentally Induced Genomic Instability)
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