Magnetic fields, brain and immunity: Effect on humoral and cell-mediated immune responses

Abstract

Magnetic fields (MF) can influence biological systems in a wide range of animal species and humans. We report here on the influence of static MF, locally applied to the brain area, on immune system performances in the rat. In the first series of experiments two AKMA micromagnets (M) with the influx density of 600 Gauss were bilaterally implanted (with "N" polarity facing the cranial bones) and fixed to the skull posterior to the fronto-parietal suture (parietal brain exposure). Rats implanted with iron beads (I) and sham-operated (SO) rats served as controls. Animals were exposed to MF or I during different periods of time before and after immunization with several soluble or cellular antigens. We report here on the in vivo immunoregulating effects of centrally applied MF on plaque-forming cell (PFC) response, local hypersensitivity skin reactions and experimental allergic encephalomyelitis. The selective influence of MF applied to different brain regions on PFC response was evaluated, as well. For this purpose, two M were bilaterally implanted in the area of (a) frontal, (b) parietal and (c) occipital brain regions. Rats were under the influence of MF for 20 days before and 4 days after immunization with sheep red blood cells. Groups of nonimmunized rats were exposed for 14, 24 and 34 days to parietally implanted M or I, and the number of peripheral blood CD4+ and CD8+ cells determined by mouse anti-rat W3/25 and MRC OX 8 monoclonal antibodies. The results show an overall in vivo immunopotentiation of humoral and cell-mediated immune responses in rats exposed to MF. Furthermore, these immunomodulating effects of centrally applied MF depend on at least two basic parameters, time of exposure and brain region exposed. The highest immune performance was obtained after exposure of the occipital brain region for a total period of 24 days. The results provide further evidence of the complex interrelationship between the environment, the central nervous system and the immune system.

The protective effects of T cell deficiency against brain injury are ischemic model-dependent in rats

“…The area of infarct in the distal MCAo model exclusively affected the cortex, while the suture MCAo model affected both the cortex and striatum. Other studies have suggested that brain lesion sizes correlate with different immune responses (Jankovic et al, 1991, Kang et al, 1991, Kriegsfeld et al, 2003). Lymphocyte response may be dependent on where the infarct occurs.…”

Combined Effects of Electromagnetic Fields on Immune and Nervous Responses

“…the immune response depending on the time of exposure Brief experimentally induced mental stress was shown to and the region of the brain exposed (22). Mice chronienhance blood natural killer (NK) cell mobilization and cally exposed to 50 Hz EMFs, in the same conditions as activity (7-10) and to reduce blood CD3+ lymphocytes humans, showed reduced total lymphocytes, leukocytes, (9-10).…”

The physiological responses of the Caspian kutum (Rutilus frisii kutum) fry to the static magnetic fields with different intensities during acute and subacute exposures

“…Tenforde and Shifrine (1984) examined the effects of long continuous magnetic field exposure (6 days at 1.5 T) on the immune system of mice, and no effects were detected. The elevated levels of several immune had been reproted at the various static magnetic field treatments (Jankovic et al, 1991(Jankovic et al, , 1993(Jankovic et al, , 1994. The lysozyme concentration in the Caspian kutum fry showed a decreasing trend during exposure to the SMFs at 2.5 to 7.5 mT.…”