title: Impact of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields on CD4 expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells.
abstract: There is increasing evidence suggesting that extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF) may influence several cell functions. Here the effects of ELF-EMF were studied on the expression of CD4+ cell surface receptors of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) using fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACScan). The expression of CD4+ in ELF-EMF exposed (24, 48 and 72 h) and not exposed PBMC were not statistically significant. In addition, a flow cytometric analysis was determined by using a fluorescent labeled antibody, at 24 and 72 h incubations. The amount of bound antibody was distributed with a slight difference in the ELF-EMF-exposed PBMC compared to the not exposed cells. Moreover, DNA CD4+ expression in PBMC strongly increased in exposed cells, resting and activated with Phytohaemaglutinin (PHA). When polymerase chain reaction was performed on CD4+ mRNA of PBMC an increase of CD4+ mRNA expression was found after the resting cells were exposed to ELF-EMF at 24 h compared to not exposed cells, while at 48 and 72 h no difference was found. In the cell cycle progression analysis, the PBMC exposed to ELF-EMF presented a significant increase of percentage expression of cell cycle progression in the S phase compared to not exposed cells; while in G1 and G2 phases, there were no differences. Our results provide new evidence that ELF-EMF can affect CD4+ expression in PBMC and describe an additional biological activity for ELF-EMF affecting CD4+ transcription and translation protein and the increase of the percentage expression of the cell cycle progression of the S phase.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology and Neurosciences, University of Chieti, Medical School, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Felaco
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reale
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grilli
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: De Lutiis
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Barbacane
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Di Luzio
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Conti
mesh_terms: D015153:Blotting, Western; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000528:radiation effects; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D015704:CD4 Antigens; D012333:RNA, Messenger