Exposure of rats to a 50-Hz, 100 muTesla magnetic field does not affect the ex vivo production of interleukins by activated T or B lymphocytes.
Two separate, independent experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of exposure of rats to a 50-Hz linearly polarized, 100 microT magnetic field (MF) on the ex vivo production of interleukins (ILs) by mitogen-stimulated splenic lymphocytes. IL-1 and IL-2 were determined by proliferation assays, using IL-dependent murine T cell lines. In the first experiment, female Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA] at a dose of 20 mg per rat (four weekly gavage doses of 5 mg), and were either MF-exposed or sham-exposed for 14 weeks. This experimental protocol has previously been shown to result in a significant increase in breast cancer growth in response to MF exposure. Furthermore, MF exposure at 50-100 microT for 3 months was recently found to induce a suppressed ex vivo proliferation of splenic T cells in response to mitogen stimulation, which could be a result of reduced IL production of spleen lymphocytes. However, the present experiments failed to demonstrate any significant difference between MF- and sham-exposed groups in production of IL-1 by mitogen-activated splenic B cells. In a second experiment, shorter MF exposure periods were studied with respect to IL production from mitogen-stimulated B and T cells. Groups of rats were MF- or sham-exposed for 1 day, 1 week, or 2 weeks, followed by preparation and activation of spleen lymphocytes. No significant difference in IL-1 or IL-2 production from stimulated B or T cells was seen. The data indicate that in vivo MF exposure of rats does not affect the ex vivo IL production of B or T lymphocytes, suggesting that the recently reported changes in T cell proliferation in response to MF exposure may not be mediated via alterations in B or T cell IL production.
Häussler
M
M
Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmacy, School of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany.
Thun-Battersby
S
S
Mevissen
M
M
Löscher
W
W
D015127:9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene / Q000633:toxicity; D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000633:toxicity; D002460:Cell Line; D005260:Female; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007378:Interleukins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008280:Magnetics / Q000009:adverse effects*; D051379:Mice; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*
D002273:Carcinogens; D007375:Interleukin-1; D007376:Interleukin-2; D007378:Interleukins; D015127:9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene