The effects of radiofrequency and low frequency electromagnetic fields on the immune system

Abstract

In recent years, there is increasing concern about the increased public awareness of the effects of exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMFs) on human health and possible negative effects. Radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMFs) and extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMFs), which disrupt the human body's balance with the magnetic fields, are spread by natural or man-made sources. Electromagnetic waves in the radio frequency (RF; 3 kHz-300 GHz) region are used in mobile phones, base stations, wireless communication, radio frequency identification systems, medical and industrial applications, radio and television broadcasts etc. Immunological studies show that RF-EMA and ELF-EMA can interact with cells and tissues and produce a large number of anti-inflammatory agents. Although many studies have been conducted to date on the effects of RF-EMA and elf-EMA on cells of our immune system, there are some conflicting and inconsistent findings about mobile phones. In spite of the wide range of studies on the subject, there is no universally accepted standard hypothesis in the research in this area. In this review, examples that emphasize the positive and negative findings of the EMFs regarding the immune system are compiled and presented.

Keywords

• Electromagnetic fields,immune cells,immune functions

Radyofrekans ve düşük frekanslı elektromanyetik alanların bağışıklık sistemine etkileri

Abstract

Radyofrekans elektromanyetik alan (RF-EMA) ve düşük frekanslı elektromanyetik alanlar (ELF-EMA) insan yapımı kaynaklar tarafından oluşturulmaktadır. Bu elektromanyetik alanlara maruz kalmanın insan sağlığına etkileri konusunda kamuoyunda duyarlılığının artmış olması ve olası olumsuz etkileri konusunda giderek artan bir endişe söz konusudur. Özellikle insan yapımı elektromanyetik alanlar, insan vücudunun doğal yoldan var olan manyetik alan dengesini bozmaktadır. Radyofrekans (3kHz-300GHz) bölgesinde bulunan elektromanyetik dalgalar; cep telefonları, baz istasyonları, kablosuz iletişim, radyo frekans tanımlama sistemleri, medikal ve endüstriyel uygulamalar, radyo ve televizyon yayınlarında v.s. kullanılmaktadır. İmmünolojik çalışmalar, RF-EMA ve ELF-EMA'nin, hücreler ve dokularla etkileşebildiğini ve çok sayıda  anti-enflamatuar oluşturduğunu göstermektedir. Her ne kadar RF-EMA ve ELF-EMA’nin bağışıklık sistemimizin hücreleri üzerindeki etkileri ile ilgili bugüne kadar çok sayıda çalışma yapılsa da cep telefonlarıyla ilgili bu güne kadar yapılan çalışmalarda çelişkili ve tutarsız bulgular elde edilmiştir.  Konu ile ilgili çalışmaların genişliğine rağmen, bu alandaki araştırmalarda evrensel olarak kabul edilmiş standart bir hipotez yoktur. Bu derlemede, EMA’nın immün sistemle ilgili olumlu ve olumsuz bulguları en iyi vurgulayan örnekler derlenip sunulmuştur.

Keywords

• Elektromanyetik alanlar,bağışıklık hücreleri,bağışıklık fonksiyonları

References

1. 1. Finlay CC, Maus S, Beggan CD, Bonda TN, Chambodut A, Chernova T. International Geomagnetic Reference Field: the eleventh generation. Geophys. J. Int 2010; 183 (3): 1216–1230.
2. 2. French PW, Penny R, Laurence JA, McKenzie DR. Mobile phones, heat shock proteins and cancer. Differentiation 2001; 677: 93–97.
3. 3. Repacholi MH, Basten A, GebskiV, Noonan D, Finnie J, Harris AW. Lymphomas in Eµ-PimJ transgenic mice exposed to pulsed 900 MHz electromagnetic fields. Radiat Res 1997;147:631–640.
4. 4. Zmyslony M, Politanski P, Rajkowska E, SzymczakW, Jajte J. Acute exposure to 930 MHz CW electromagnetic radiation in vitro affects reactive oxygen species level in rat lymphocytes treated by iron ions. Bioelectromagnetics 2004;25(5): 324–328.
5. 5. Gatta L, Pinto R, Ubaldi V, Pace L, Galloni P, Lovisolo GA, Marino C, Pioli C. Effects of in vivo exposure to GSM modulated 900 MHz radiation on mouse peripheral lymphocytes. Radiat Res 2003; 160: 600–605.
6. 6. Boscol P, Di Sciascio MB, Dostilio S, Del Signore A, Reale M, Conti P, Bavazzano P, Paganelli R, Di Gioacchino M. Effects of electromagnetic fields produced by radiotelevision broadcasting stations on the immune system of women. Sci Total Environm 2001;273: 1–10.
7. 7. Khamidova GM. The influence of radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation on the platelet aggregation. Int J Biomed 2014; 4: 155–158.
8. 8. JR. Jauchem. Effects of low-level radio-frequency (3 kHz to 300 GHz) energy on human cardiovascular, reproductive, immune, and other systems: A review of the recent literature. Int. J. Hyg. Environ. Health 2008; 211: 1–29.

9. 9. F. Nasta, MG. Prisco, R. Pinto, GA. Lovisolo, C. Marino and C. Pioli. Effects of GSM-modulated radiofrequency electromagnetic fields on B-cell peripheral differentiation and antibody production. Radiat. Res. 2006; 165: 664–670.
10. 10. H. Tuschl, W. Novak and H. M. Djafari, In vitro effects of GSM modulated radiofrequency fields on human immune cells. Bioelectromagnetics 2006; 27: 188–196.
11. 11. Black DR, Heynick LN. RF effects on blood cells, cardiac, endocrine, and immunological functions. Bioelectromagnetics Supplement, 2003; (6):187–195.
12. 12. Elder, J. Ocular Effects of Radiofrequency Energy, Bioelectromagnetics Supplement 2003; (6): 148–161.
13. 13. Frank S. Barnes, Ben Greenebaum. Biological and medical aspects of electromagnetic fields. Third edition. CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group, 2007, New York.
14. 14. Hyland, G. J. Physics and biology of mobile telephony. Lancet 2000;356:1833–1836.
15. 15. Rannug A, Holmberg B, Ekstrom T, Mild KH, Gimenez-Conti I, Slaga T.J, Intermittent 50 Hz magnetic field and skin tumor promotion in SENCAR mice. Carcinogenesis 1994; 15 (2), 153-7.
16. 16. Bonhomme-Faivre L, Marion S, Forestier F, Santini R, Auclair HC. Effects of electromagnetic fields on the immune systems of occupationally exposed humans and mice. Arch. Environ. Health 58 (11), 712-17, 2003.
17. 17. Bonhomme-Faivre L, Marion S, Bezie Y, Auclair H, Fredj G, Hommeau C. Study of human neurovegetative and hematologic effects of environmental low-frequency (50-Hz) electromagnetic fields produced by transformers. Arch Environ Health. 1998;53 (2): 87-92.
18. 18. Tuschl H, Neubauer G, Schmid G, Weber E, Winker N. Occupational exposure to static, ELF, VF and VLF magnetic fields and immune parameters, Int. J. Occup. Med. Environ. Health 2000; 13 (1): 39-50,
19. 19. Dasdag S, Sert C, Akdag Z, Batun S. Effects of extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields on hematologic and immunologic parameters in welders, Arch. Med. Res. 33 (1), 29-32, 2002.
20. 20.Khamidova GM. The influence of radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation on the platelet aggregation. Int J Biomed 2014; (4): 155-158.
21. 21. Stankiewicz W, Dabrowski MP, Kubacki R, Sobiczewska E, Szmigielski S. 2006. Immunotropic influence of 900MHz microwave GSM signal on human blood immune cells activated in vitro. Electromagn Biol Med 25: 45-51.
22. 22. Cho YH, Chung HW. The effect of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF) on the frequency of micronuclei and sister chromatid exchange in human lymphocytes induced by benzo(a)pyrene, Toxicol. Lett. 143 (1), 37-44, 2003.
23. 23. Bonhomme-Faivre L, Mace, A, Bezie Y, Marion S, Bindoula G, Szekely AM, Frenois N, Auclair H,Orbach-Arbouys S, and Bizi E. Alterations of biological parameters in mice chronically exposed to low-frequency (50 Hz) electromagnetic fields, Life Sci 1998; 62 (14), 1271-80.
24. 24. Flipo D, Fournier M, Benquet C, Roux, P, Le Boulaire C, Pinsky C, LaBella FS. and Krzystyniak K. Increased apoptosis, changes in intracellular Ca2+, and functional alterations in lymphocytes and macrophages after in vitro exposure to static magnetic field, J. Toxicol. Environ.Health 1998; 54 (1): 63-76.
25. 25. Makar, V, Logani M, Szabo I, Ziskin M. Effect of millimeter waves on cyclophosphamide induced suppression of T cell functions, Bioelectromagnetics 24 (5), 356–65, 2003.
26. 26. Ohtani S, Ushiyama A, Maeda M, Ogasawara Y, Wang J, Kunugita N, Ishii K. The effects of radio-frequency electromagnetic fields on T cell function during development. J Radiat Res 2015; 56: 467–474.
27. 27.Hye Sun Kim, Jae Sung Park, Yeung‐Bae Jin, Hyung Do Choi, Jong Hwa Kwon, Jeong‐Ki Pack Nam Kim, Young Hwan Ahn. Effects of exposure to electromagnetic field from 915 MHz radiofrequency identification system on circulating blood cells in the healthy adult rat. Bioelectromagnetics 2018; 39: 68-76.
28. 28.Selvam R, Ganesan K, Narayana Raju KV, Gangadharan A, Manohar BM, Puvanakrishnan R. Low frequency and low intensity pulsed electromagnetic field exerts its antiinflammatory effect through restoration of plasma membrane calcium ATPase activity. Life Sci 2007;80(26):2403-2410.
29. 29.Markov M, Nindl G, Hazlewood C, Cuppen J. Interactions between electromagnetic fields and immune system: possible mechanism for pain control. In: Ayrapetyan SN, Markov MS, editors. Bioelectromagnetics Current Concepts. Dordrecht: Springer; 2006:213-225.
30. 30.Akan Z, Aksu B, Tulunay A, Bilsel S, Inhan Garip A. Extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields affect the immune response of monocyte-derived macrophages to pathogens. Bioelectromagnetics 2010;31(8):603-612.
31. 31.Blank M, Goodman R. Do electromagnetic fields interact directly with DNA? Bioelectromagnetics 1997;18(2):111-115.
32. 32.Christina L. Ross, Benjamin S. Harrison. An introduction to electromagnetic field therapy and immune function: a brief history and current status. J Sci Appl: Biomed 2015; 3(2):18-29.
33. 33.Ciombor D, Aaron RK, Wang S, Simon B. Modification of osteoarthritis by pulsed electromagnetic field a morphological study. Osteoarthritis Cartilage 2003; 11: 455.
34. 34.Gómez-Ochoa I, Gómez-Ochoa P, Gómez-Casal F, Cativiela E, Larrad-Mur L. Pulsed electromagnetic fields decrease proinflammatory cytokine secretion (IL-1β and TNF-α) on human fibroblast-like cell culture. Rheumatol Int 2011;(31): 1283.
35. 35. Benazzo F, Cadossi M, Cavani F, Fini M, Giavaresi G, Setti S, Cadossi R, Giardino R. Cartilage repair with osteochondral autografts in sheep: effect of biophysical stimulation with pulsed electromagnetic fields. J Orthop Res 2008; 26: 631.
36. 36. Hehlgans T, Pfeffer K. The intriguing biology of the tumor necrosis factor/tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily: players, rules and the games. Immunology 2005;115:1.
37. 37. Wallach D, Varfolomeev E, Malinin NL, Goltsev YV, Kovalenko AV, Boldin MP. Tumor necrosis factor receptor and Fas signaling mechanisms. Annu Rev Immunol 1999;17: 331–367
38. 38. Hayden MS, West AP, Ghosh S. NF-kappaB and the immune response. Oncogene 2006; 25(51):6758–6780.
39. 39. Vincenzi F, Targa M, Corciulo C, Gessi S, Merighi S, Setti S, Cadossi R, Borea PA, Varani K. The anti-tumor effect of A3 adenosine receptors is potentiated by pulsed electromagnetic fields in cultured neural cancer cells. PLoS One. 2012;7:e39317.
40. 40. Ross C, Harrison BS. Effect of pulsed electromagnetic field on inflammatory pathway markers in RAW 264.7 murine macrophages. J Inflamm Res 2013; 6: 45.
41. 41. Sabah F. El-Abd, Marwa Y.Eltoweissy. Cytogenetic alterations in human lymphocyte culture following exposure to radiofrequency field of mobile phone. Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Science 2012; 2 (2): 16-20.
42. 42. Onodera H, Jin Z, Chida S, Suzuki Y, Tago H, Itoyama Y. Effects of 10-T static magnetic field on human peripheral blood immune cells. Radiat. Res 2003; 159(6), 775-9.
43. 43. Radeva M, Berg H. Differences in lethality between cancer cells and human lymphocytes caused by LF-electromagnetic fields, Bioelectromagnetics 2004; 25 (7), 503–7.
44. 44. Jajte J, Grzegorczyk J, Zmyślony M, Rajkowska E. Effect of 7 mT static magnetic field and iron ions on rat lymphocytes: apoptosis, necrosis and free radical processes, Bioelectrochemistry 2002; 57 (2), 107–11.
45. 45. Emre Mustafa, Boga Ayper, Cetiner Salih. The effect of 900 MHz GSM-like radiofrequency irradiation and nicotine administration on the apoptosis of human fetal cells. J Clin Cell Immunol 2017; 8(7): DOI: 10.4172/2155-9899-C1-046.
46. 46. Emre Mustafa, Çetiner Salih, Zencir Sevil, Unlukurt İsa, Kahraman İbrahim, Topcu Zeki. Oxidative stress and apoptosis in relation to exposure to magnetic field. Cell Biochem Biophys 2011; 59: 71–77.
47. 47. Zotti-Martelli, L, Peccatori M, Scarpato R, Migliore L. Induction of micronuclei in human lymphocytes exposed in vitro to microwave radiation, Mutat. Res 2000; 472 (1–2): 51–8.
48. 48. d’Ambrosio, G. Cytogenetic damage in human lymphocytes following GMSK phase modulated microwave exposure. Bioelectromagnetics 2002; 23 (1): 7–13.
49. 49. Tice RR, Hook, GG, Donner M, McRee DI, Guy AW. Genotoxicity of radiofrequency signals. I. Investigation of DNA damage and micronuclei induction in cultured human blood cells, Bioelectromagnetics 2002; 23(2): 113–26.
50. 50. Ikeda K. No effects of extremely low frequency magnetic fields found on cytotoxic activities and cytokine production of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells in vitro, Bioelectromagnetics 24 (1), 21–31, 2003.
51. 51.Maria Rosaria Scarfì, Anna Maria Fresegna, Paola Villani, Rosanna Pinto, Carmela Marino, Maurizio Sarti, et al. Exposure to Radiofrequency Radiation (900 MHz, GSM signal) does not Affect Micronucleus Frequency and Cell Proliferation in Human Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes: An Interlaboratory Study. Radiat. Res. 2006; 165(6): 655- 663.
52. 52.Manolo Sambucci, Federica Laudisi, Francesca Nasta, Rosanna Pinto, Rossella Lodato,Vanni Lopresto, et al. Early life exposure to 2.45 GHz WiFi-like signals: Effects on development and maturation of the immune system. Prog Biophys Mol Biol 2011; 107(3): 393-398.
53. 53. Black DR, Heynick LN. RF effects on blood cells, cardiac, endocrine, and immunological functions. Bioelectromagnetics Supplement, 2003; (6):187–195.
54. 54. Mattsson MO & Simko M. Is there a relation between extremely low frequency magnetic field exposure, inflammation and neurodegenerative diseases? A review of in vivo and in vitro experimental evidence. Toxicology 2012; 301: 1-12.
55. 55. Mattsson MO & Simkó M. Grouping of experimental conditions as an approach to evaluate effects of extremely low frequency magnetic fields on oxidative response in in vitro studies. Front Public Health 2014; 132 (2):1-11.