The effect of exposure to high flux density static and pulsed magnetic fields on lymphocyte function.
We investigated whether a combination of static electromagnetic field (EMF) at a flux density of 4.75 T together with pulsed EMF at a flux density of 0.7 mT generated by an NMR apparatus (NMRF), could promote movements of Ca(2+), cell proliferation, and the eventual production of proinflammatory cytokines in human lymphocytes as well as in Jurkat cells, after exposure to the field for 1 h. The same study was also performed after activation of cells with 5 micro g/ml phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) immediately before the exposure period. Our results clearly demonstrate that NMRF exposure increases the [Ca(2+)](i), without any proliferative, or activating, or proinflammatory effect on both normal and PHA stimulated lymphocytes. Accordingly, the levels of interferon gamma, tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-1beta, interleukin-2, and interleukin-6 remained unvaried after exposure. Exposure of Jurkat cells statistically decreased the [Ca(2+)](i) and the proliferation. This is consistent with the low levels of IL-2 measured in supernatants of these cells after exposure. On the whole our data suggest that static and pulsed NMRF exposure contribute synergistically in the increase of the [Ca(2+)](i) without any activating or proinflammatory effect either in normal or in PHA challenged lymphocytes. In Jurkat cells, by changing the properties of cell membranes, NMRF exposure can influence Ca(2+) transport processes and hence Ca(2+) homeostasis, causing a marked decrease of proliferation.
Aldinucci
Carlo
C
Department of Physiology, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
Garcia
Julian Blanco
JB
Palmi
Mitri
M
Sgaragli
Gianpietro
G
Benocci
Alberto
A
Meini
Antonella
A
Pessina
Federica
F
Rossi
Claudio
C
Bonechi
Claudia
C
Pessina
Gian Paolo
GP
D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D006801:Humans; D019169:Jurkat Cells; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology; D011829:Radiation Dosage
D016207:Cytokines; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D002118:Calcium