Innate Immune Regulation Under Magnetic Fields With Possible Mechanisms and Therapeutic Applications

Abstract

With the wide applications of magnetic fields (MFs) in medicine, researchers from different disciplines have gained interest in understanding the effect of various types of MFs on living cells and organisms. In this paper, we mainly focus on the immunological and physical aspects of the immune responses and their mechanisms under different types of MFs. Immune cells were slightly affected by low-frequency alternating MFs but were strongly influenced by moderate-intensity MFs and high-gradient MFs (HGMFs). Larger immune cells, such as macrophages, were more sensitive to HGMFs, which biased the cell polarization into the anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype. Subject to the gradient forces of varying directions and strength, the elongated M2 macrophage also remodeled the cytoskeleton with actin polymerization and changed the membrane receptors and ion channel gating. These alterations were very similar to changes caused by the small GTPase RhoA interference in macrophage. Regulation of iron metabolism may also contribute to the MF effects in macrophages. High MFs were found to regulate the iron content in monocyte-/macrophage-derived osteoclasts by affecting the expression of iron-regulation genes. On the other hand, paramagnetic nanoparticles (NPs) combined with external MFs play an important role in T-cell immunity. Paramagnetic NP-coated Tcells can cluster their T-cell receptors (TCRs) by using an external MF, thus increasing the cell-cell contact and communication followed by enhanced tumor killing capacity. The external MF can also guide the adoptively transferred magnetic NP-coated T-cells to their target sites in vivo, thus dramatically increasing the efficiency of cell therapy. Additionally, iron oxide NPs for ferroptosis-based cancer therapy and other MF-related therapeutic applications with obstacles were also addressed. Furthermore, for a profound understanding of the effect of MFs on immune cells, multidisciplinary research involving both experimental research and theoretical modeling is essential.

Effects of High Magnetic Fields on the Diffusion of Biologically Active Molecules

“…Interactions between a magnetic field and living cells may result in the appearance of a variety of biomagnetic effects at the cellular and organism levels [ 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 ]. Many intriguing mechanisms have been suggested to explain biomagnetic effects [ 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 ]. The biological effects of high and ultrahigh magnetic fields are of particular interest; for example, a 9.4 T static MF suppress lung cancer growth [ 12 ]; a 10.5 T MRI static MF affects human cognitive, vestibular, and physiological functions [ 19 ]; a 16.4 T static MF results in long-term impairment of the vestibular system in mice [ 20 ]; a 27 T static MF changes the orientation and morphology of mitotic spindles in human cells [ 21 ].…”

Bio-Electromagnetics without Fields: The Effect of the Vector Potential

“…The scientific research on electromagnetic effects on biological systems involves numerous theoretical and practical aspects in the last couple of centuries. Electric and magnetic fields, depending on their intensity, frequency, and gradients, affect the biological processes, including the immune cells [1]. The magnetic field could support chemotherapy in oncology [2], despite missing observable clinical changes, the improvement of the patients' quality of life is expected.…”

Effects of High Magnetic Fields on Diffusion of Biologically Active Molecules

“…Interactions between a magnetic field and living cells may result in the appearance of a variety of biomagnetic effects at the cellular and organism levels [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15]. Many intriguing mechanisms have been suggested to explain biomagnetic effects [16][17][18][19][20][21]. The biological effects of high and ultrahigh magnetic fields are of particular interest, for example: 9.4 T static MF suppress lung cancer growth [15]; 10.5 T MRI static MF effects on human cognitive, vestibular, and physiological function [22]; 16.4 T static MF results in long-term impairment of the vestibular system in mice [23]; 27 T static MF changes orientation and morphology of mitotic spindles in human cells [24].…”

“…Interactions between a magnetic field and living cells may result in the appearance of a variety of biomagnetic effects at the cellular and organism levels [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15]. Many intriguing mechanisms have been suggested to explain biomagnetic effects [16][17][18][19][20][21]. However, the biological effects related to MF-affected diffusion are poorly understood [7].…”