Abstract
Electromagnetic fields (EMFs) of different types (static and time varying, continuous and pulsed), with a wide frequency range (1 Hz – 70 GHz) and with a broad intensity range (1 μT – 15 T) have been reported to interact with immune cells. However, most of the publications lack the basic information, which would explain the choice of a particular signal. In vivo, EMFs have been shown to significantly reduce pain levels in patients suffering from various diseases. This led to hypothesis that the beneficial effects of EMFs could be achieved by regulating inflammatory immune processes. The objective of this paper is to summarize current EMF studies on immune cells such as B and T lymphocytes, and to determine important principles of cellular EMF interactions with the goal to improve our understanding on how EMFs function in medicine. An apparent obstacle to achieving this goal was the lack of information in the published literature on the selection and physical characteristics of a particular EMF signal.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Blank, M., and Goodman, R., 1997, Do electromagnetic fields interact directly with DNA? Bioelectromagnetics, 18:111–115.
Hazlewood, C.F., and Markov, M. S., 2005, Electromagnetic field therapy: A role for water? In: this book.
Johnson, M.T. and Nindl, G., 2004, Mechanism and therapeutic potential of non-ionizing electromagnetic fields for treatment of inflammatory diseases. 26th annual meeting of The Bioelectromagnetics Society, Washington, DC, USA.
Leszczynski, D., Joenvaara S., Reivinen, J., 2003, New approach in EMF research – Proteomics and transcriptomics. Proceedings VIth International Congress of EBEA, Budapest 13–15 November 2003, 5.
Lushnikov, K.V., Gapayev A.B., Chemeris N.K., 2002, Effects of extremely high frequency electromagnetic radiation on the immune system and system regulation of the homeostasis. Radiation Biology. Radioecology. 42: 533–545 (in Russian).
Markov, M.S., 1994, Biological Effects of extremely low frequency magnetic fields, in: Biomagnetic Stimulation, S. Ueno, ed., Plenum Press, New York, 91–103.
Markov, M. S., 1999, Static magnetic field and the transmission of subtle energy stimulus having biological effects. X International Congress on Stress, Montreau, Switzerland, February 28-March 6, 1999, p. 36
Markov, M.S., Hazlewood, C.F, Ericsson, A.D., 2004, Systemic effect-a plausible explanation of the benefit of magnetic field therapy: A hypothesis – 3rd International Workshop on Biological Effects of EMF – Kos, Greece, October 4–8, 2004, 673–682, ISBN 960-233-151-8.
Markov, M.S., Hazlewood, C.F, and Ericsson, A.D., 2005, Systemic effect: new hypothesis for explanation of the benefit of magnetic field therapy. The environmentalist (in press).
Nindl, G., Swez, J.A., Miller, J.M., and Balcavage, W.X., 1997, Growth stage dependent effect of electromagnetic fields on DNA synthesis of Jurkat cells, FEBS Letters, 414: 501–506.
Nindl, G., Hughes, E.F., Johnson, M.T., Spandau, D.F. Vesper, D.N. and Balcavage, W.X., 2002a, Effect of ultraviolet B radiation and 100 Hz electromagnetic fields on proliferation and DNA synthesis of Jurkat cells. Bioelectromagnetics, 23: 455–463.
Nindl, G., Johnson, M.T., Hughes, E.F., Markov, M.S., 2002b, Therapeutic electromagnetic field effects on normal and activated Jurkat cells – International Workshop of Biological effects of Electromagnetic fields, Rhodes, Greece, 7–11 October 2002, p.167–173. ISBN #960-86733-3-X.
Nindl, G., Johnson, M.T. and Balcavage, W.X., 2003, Low-frequency electromagnetic field effects on lymphocytes: Potential for treatment of inflammatory diseases, in: Bioelectromagnetic Medicine. P. Rosch and M. Markov, eds., Marcel Dekker Inc., New York, pp: 369–389.
Rosch, P.J. and Markov, M.S., 2004, in: Bioelectromagnetic Medicine, Marcel Dekker, New York, 852 p.
Szmigielski, S., 1981, Immunological response of mammals to microwaves, Prog Clin Biol Res 107: 227–246.
Valberg, P., 1995, How to plan EMF experiments. Bioelectromagnetics 16: 3 96–401.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2006 Springer
About this paper
Cite this paper
MARKOV, M., NINDL, G., HAZLEWOOD, C., CUPPEN, J. (2006). INTERACTIONS BETWEEN ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS AND IMMUNE SYSTEM: POSSIBLE MECHANISM FOR PAIN CONTROL. In: Ayrapetyan, S.N., Markov, M.S. (eds) BIOELECTROMAGNETICS Current Concepts. NATO Security Through Science Series. Springer, Dordrecht . https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-4278-7_12
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-4278-7_12
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-1-4020-4276-8
Online ISBN: 978-1-4020-4278-2
eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)