Interaction between electromagnetic fields and cells: Microelectrophoretic effect on ligands and surface receptors

Abstract

The aggregation between lectins and lymphocyte surface receptors can be affected strongly by a low-level electric field induced in the cell suspension by a time-varying magnetic field. One of the possible mechanisms is the microelectrophoretic effect due to the electric field, which influences the distance (in the mean square sense) between charged ligands and receptors when they are about to separate. On a purely theoretical basis, it is shown that, at low frequencies, an externally induced periodic electric field always decreases the mean lifetime of ligand-receptor complexes. As a consequence, the mitogenic gain obtained by lectin addition to cell suspension is decreased. These results suggest that such a mechanism, if effective, reduces the lectin mitogenic capability and offers a way of handling similar phenomena which have been described for other biological systems.

Magnetic field inhibits isolated lymphocytes' proliferative response to mitogen stimulation

“…Bersani et al [1997] reported that MF was able to induce the clustering of large intramembrane proteins, for example, receptors, enzymes, ion channels, and others. On the other hand, the MF can attenuate the activation process by shortening the lifetime of ligand receptor complexes and may thus reduce its mitogenic capability [Chiabrera et al, 1984]. Similarly, it can be assumed that the decrease in the proliferative response of splenocytes, as observed in the present study, may occurred in consequence of MF evoked changes at the stage of lymphocyte activation.…”

“…These discrepancies are due to the fact that the pattern and intensity of the observed changes depend primarily on the functional state of the cells and also on the characteristics of the field and the duration of exposure [Cadossi et al, 1992;Eichwald and Walleczek, 1996]. The MF may affect a cells' functioning by acting on some stages of cellular signaling processes, including the receptor ligand interaction [Chiabrera et al, 1984], intramembrane protein distribution [Bersani et al, 1997], ion flux through ion channels [Liburdy, 1992], and the activity of enzymes [Uckun et al, 1995;Lindström et al, 2000]. Although the MF itself does not induce any proliferation of lymphocytes, it alters the proliferative response of cells induced by other stimuli, for example, mitogens [Cadossi et al, 1992].…”

Preliminary microwave irradiation of water solutions changes their channel‐modifying activity

“…Either the channel protein itself [2][3][4] or some membrane structures (e.g. [5]), or even the solutions surrounding the membrane could serve as an acceptor.…”

Effects of low-frequency magnetic fields on embryonic development and pregnancy.

“…The field strengths used were so low that interaction based on induced currents is unlikely (66). Several hypothetical mechanisms have been reported to explain the effects of weak fields (27,(67)(68)(69)(70)(71). These hypotheses have not been confirmed experimentally, although some observations seem to agree with Liboff's (27) "cyclotron resonance theory" (72,73).…”