The effects of electromagnetic fields on peripheral blood mononuclear cells in vitro.
OBJECTIVE
A discussion about the adverse effects of electromagnetic waves on the biological life has been ongoing since the discovery of electricity in the 19th century.


METHODS
The primary objective of this study was to analyze the changes in the cell viability, rates of apoptosis, proliferation indices and the cell surface antigenic structures resulting from 2-, 6- and 24-hour exposure of mononuclear cells isolated from the peripheral blood to 450, 900 and 1784 MHz electromagnetic waves.


RESULTS
Data obtained showed that electromagnetic waves didn't have any effect on the cell viability, rates of apoptosis and proliferation index. While electromagnetic waves didn't affect the HLADR and CD11b expression in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells, they decreased the CD11a expression and increased the CD49d expression.


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest that electromagnetic signals could affect the functional capacity of the peripheral blood mononuclear cells by changing their adhesion ability. Maybe these alterations are the sign of the immune system modulation. More comprehensive studies are needed, involving higher number and more lines of cells (Tab. 6, Fig. 3, Ref. 11).
Atasoy
Ayten
A
Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon, Turkey.
Sevim
Yusuf
Y
Kaya
Ismail
I
Yilmaz
Mustafa
M
Durmus
Ahmet
A
Sonmez
Mehmet
M
Omay
S B
SB
Ozdemir
Feyyaz
F
Ovali
Ercüment
E
D017209:Apoptosis / Q000528:radiation effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000528:radiation effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000528:radiation effects; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000528:radiation effects*