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Impact of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields on CD4 expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells

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Abstract

There is increasing evidence suggesting that extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF) may influence several cell functions. Here the effects of ELF-EMF were studied on the expression of CD4+ cell surface receptors of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) using florescence-activated cell sorter (FACScan). The expression of CD4+ in ELF-EMF exposed (24, 48 and 72 h) and not exposed PBMC were not statistically significant. In addition, a flow cytometric analysis was determined by using a fluorescent labeled antibody, at 24 and 72 h incubations. The amount of bound antibody was distributed with a slight difference in the ELF-EMF-exposed PBMC compared to the not exposed cells. Moreover, DNA CD4+ expression in PBMC strongly increased in exposed cells, resting and activated with Phytohaemaglutinin (PHA). When polymerase chain reaction was performed on CD4+ mRNA of PBMC an increase of CD4+ mRNA expression was found after the resting cells were exposed to ELF-EMF at 24 h compared to not exposed cells, while at 48 and 72 h no difference was found. In the cell cycle progression analysis, the PBMC exposed to ELF-EMF presented a significant increase of percentage expression of cell cycle progression in the S phase compared to not exposed cells; while in G1 and G2 phases, there were no differences. Our results provide new evidence that ELF-EMF can affect CD4+ expression in PBMC and describe an additional biological activity for ELF-EMF affecting CD4+ transcription and translation protein and the increase of the percentage expression of the cell cycle progression of the S phase.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Immunology Division, Department of Oncology and Neurosciences, University of Chieti, Medical School, Chieti, Italy

    Mario Felaco, Marcella Reale, Maria A. De Lutiis, Renato C. Barbacane & Pio Conti

  2. Biology Department, University of Chieti, Medical School, Chieti, Italy

    Alfredo Grilli

  3. Department of Clinical Sciences and Bioimaging, University of Chieti, Medical School, Chieti, Italy

    Silvano Di Luzio

Authors
  1. Mario Felaco
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  2. Marcella Reale
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  3. Alfredo Grilli
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  4. Maria A. De Lutiis
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  5. Renato C. Barbacane
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  6. Silvano Di Luzio
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  7. Pio Conti
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Felaco, M., Reale, M., Grilli, A. et al. Impact of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields on CD4 expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Mol Cell Biochem 201, 49–55 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007004316433

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