# WEB-014 — Gene expression and transcription-factor binding after 100 GHz exposure

Why this matters
Molecular experiments help identify how a higher-frequency field might interact with cells. This study links gene-expression changes to a measured transcription-factor response.

Id: WEB-014

Author: Shang et al.

Full Authors: Sen Shang; XingJuan Wu; Qi Zhang; Jiping Zhao; Erling Hu; Leilei Wang; Xiaoyun Lu

Year: 2021

Title: 0.1 THz exposure affects primary hippocampus neuron gene expression via alternating transcription factor binding

Journal: Biomedical optics express

Citation: Sen Shang; XingJuan Wu; Qi Zhang; Jiping Zhao; Erling Hu; Leilei Wang; Xiaoyun Lu. 0.1 THz exposure affects primary hippocampus neuron gene expression via alternating transcription factor binding. Biomedical optics express. 2021. doi:10.1364/boe.426928.

Doi: 10.1364/boe.426928

Pmid: 34221691

Topic: Neural gene expression; Sub-terahertz biological responses

Verification Group: Original text reviewed

Record Role: Original text reviewed

Featured: False

Exposure: 0.1 THz (100 GHz); 33 mW/cm²; 20 min; primary neurons subsequently cultured for 2 h. No significant bulk-medium temperature difference detected.

Design: Primary rat hippocampal neurons; RNA sequencing, selected qPCR and AP-1 DNA-binding assay; sham comparison.

Finding: 111 genes increased and 54 decreased in expression; AP-1 binding to its DNA probe fell.

Statistics: See reported finding and original tables; effect sizes not independently recalculated.

Boundary: Three RNA-sequencing samples per condition; exploratory molecular findings and limited temperature resolution. No demonstrated neuronal injury or future-6G signal exposure.

Related:  Later related records: WEB-049, WEB-048. These are different experiments, not necessarily independent replication.

Protection Question: Which exposure conditions and biological models reproduce this response, and what would establish its relevance to health?

Access: Original methods/results sections reviewed; no independent raw-data or supplement audit.

Locator: Original results/methods sections

Notice: Linked notice fields in retrieved Europe PMC/PubMed records checked 21 October 2026; no correction or retraction surfaced there. Publisher-history and forward-citation screening are not exhaustive.

Funding: Not established from retrieved original abstract.

Conflicts: Not established from retrieved original abstract.

Source Url: https://doi.org/10.1364/boe.426928

Retrieval Links: https://doi.org/10.1364/boe.426928 | https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34221691/ | https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8221933/

Verification Date: 2026-10-21

Discovery Id: EML-6G-001

Technology Tracks: 6g|millimetre

Technology Connection: Sub-terahertz research relevant to examining proposed future bands; not an experiment using a 6G standard.

Publication Type: Original journal research

Study Setting: Cells / isolated tissue

Browse Categories: brain|cells