The impact of lower induction values of 50 Hz external electromagnetic fields on in vitro T lymphocyte adherence capabilities med./bio.

The effects of exposure of human T lymphocytes to a 50 Hz magnetic field on the adherence capacity should be investigated.

It is known that the adherence capacity of T lymphocytes of cancer patients is reduced. Restoration of the cellular adherence capacity might be useful for the treatment of cancer.
The study was conducted in two parts. In the first part, a total of 265 blood samples were taken from larynx/pharynx squamous cell carcinoma patients in the years 2000 - 2008 and subsequently analyzed. The blood samples were divided into the following groups: 1) exposure to a magnetic field of 0.05 mT (n=30), 2) 0.1 mT (n=30), 3) 0.5 mT (n=76), 4) 1 mT (n=60) and 5) 10 mT (n=69), 6) no exposure (n=?). Additionally, blood samples of 316 voluntary blood donors were examined as a control group.
In the second part, further blood samples from a fraction of the carcinoma patients from part 1 were analyzed simultaneously, to rule out a possible time factor in the first part, as the samples were analyzed over several years. The following groups were tested in these subgroups: 7) exposure to a magnetic field of 0.01 mT (n=20) , 8) 0.05 mT (n=20) and 9) 0.1 mT (n=20), 10) no exposure (n=?). Blood samples of 30 patients with chronic sensorineural hearing loss were used as a control group.

• intact cell/cell culture
• human peripheral blood T lymphocytes

In part 1, a significant increase in the adherence capacity of T lymphocytes could be detected in groups 1-3 (0.05 - 0.5 mT) after addition a of non-specific antigen compared to groups 4 and 5 (1 and 10 mT). Similarly, a significant increase was found in groups 1-3 compared to group 5 after addition of a tumor-specific antigen. All exposure groups showed a significantly increased adherence capability compared to non-exposed cells.
In part 2, groups 7 and 8 (0.01 and 0.05 mT) showed a significant increase in the adherence capacity compared to group 9 (0.1 mT) after both antigen additions. All exposure groups (7-9) showed a significantly increased adherence capacity compared to non-exposed cells after both antigen additions.
The adherence capacity in the control groups (non-cancer patients) was increased by an exposure to a magnetic field as well, and it always greater than in the experimental groups, without and with identical exposure to the magnetic field, respectively.
The authors conclude that exposure of human T lymphocytes to a 50 Hz magnetic field with a low magnetic flux density might improve the adherence capacity.