Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

In technologically developed countries, there is concern about hazards from electromagnetic fields (EMFs). Several studies have reported that immune and neuroendocrine systems exert an integrated response to EMF exposure. The aim of this review is to summarize the results of studies on the effect of low and high frequency EMF on immune and neuroendocrine systems on which our research group has been working for several years.

Keywords

electromagnetic fields nervous system immune system

References

Gregore'ev

O.A.

Bicheldei

E.P.

and Merkulow

A.V.

. 2003. Anthtopogenic EMF effects on the condition and function of natural ecosystem. Radiats. Biol. Radioecol. 43:544.

Macri

M.A.

Di Luzio Sr. and Di Luzio

. 2002. Biological effects of electromagnetic fields. Int. J. Immunopathol. Pharmacol. 15:95.

Anisman

and Merali

. 2003. Cytokine, stress and depressive illness: brain-immune interactions. Ann. Med 35:2.

Dhabhar

F.S.

2002. Stress-induced augmentation of immune function - the role of stress hormones, leukocyte trafficking, and cytokines. Brain Behav. Immun. 16:785.

Kempurai

Konstatinidou

Boscolo

. 2004. Cytokines and the brain. Int. J. Immunopathol. 17:229.

Di Giannantonio

Frydas

Kempurai

, 2005. Cytokines in stress. Int. J. Immunopathol. Pharmacol. 18:1.

Bachen

E.A.

Manuck

S.B.

Marsland

A. L.

Cohen

Malkoff

S. B.

Muldoon

M.F.

and Rabin

B.S.

. 1992. Lymphocyte subset and cellular immune response to a brief experimental stressor. Psychom. Med. 54:673.

Benshop

R.J.

Nieuwenhuis

E.E.S.

Trom

E.A.M.

Godaert

G.R.L.

Ballieux

R.E.

and van Doornen

L.J.P.

. 1994. Effects of -adrenergic blockade on immunologic and cardiovascular changes induced by mental stress. Circulation 89:762.

Isowa

Ohira

and Murashima

. 2004. Reactivity of immune, endocrine and cardiovascular parameters to active and passive acute stress. Biol. Psychol. 65:101.

10.

Kimura

Isowa

T. T.

Ohira

and Murashima

. 2005. Temporal variation of acute stress responses in sympathetic nervous and immune systems. Biol. Psycol. 70:131.

11.

Bosch

J.A.

Bernston

G.G.

Cacioppo

J.T.

and Marucha

P.T.

. 2005. Differential mobilization of functionally distinct natural killer subsets during acute psychological stress. Psychosom. Med. 67:366.

12.

Morimoto

Takeshita

Inoue-Sakurai

and Maruyama

. 2001. Lifestyle and mental health status are associated with natural killer cell and lymphokine activated killer cell activities. Sci. Total Environ. Env. 270:3.

13.

Schleifer

S.J.

Keller

S.E.

Bartlett

J.A.

Eckholdt

H.M.

and Delaney

R.R.

. 1996. Immunity in young adults with major depressive disorder. Am. J. Psychiatry 153:477.

14.

Borella

Bargellini

Rovesti

Pinelli

Vivoli

Solfrini

and Vivoli

G.F.

. 1999. Emotional stability, anxiety, and natural killer activity under examination stress. Psychoendocrinol. 24:613.

15.

Conti

Gigante

G.E.

Alesse

Ianni

G.F.

Reale

and Angeletti

P.U.

. 1983. Reduced mitogenic stimulation on human lymphocytes by extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields. FEBS Lett. 162:156.

16.

Conti

Gigante

G.E.

Alesse

Cifone

M.G.

Fieschi

Reale

and Angeletti

P.U.

. 1985. A role for Ca²⁺ in the effect of very low frequency electromagnetic field on the blastogenesis of human lymphocytes. FEBS Lett. 181:28.

17.

Conti

Gigante

G.E.

Cifone

M.G.

Alesse

Fieschi

Bologna

and Angeletti

P.U.

. 1986. Mitogen dose-dependent effect of weak pulsed electromagnetic field on lymphocyte blastogenesis. FEBS Lett. 199:130.

18.

Roman

Zyss

and Napela

. 2005. Magnetic field inhibits isolated lymphocytes' proliferative response to mitogen stimulation. Bioelectromagnetics 26:201.

19.

Conti

Reale

Grilli

Barbacane

R.C.

Di Luzio

Di Gioacchino

De Lutiis

M.A.

and Felaco

. 1999. Effect of electromagnetic fields on several CD markers and transcription and expression of CD4. Immunobiology 201:36.

20.

Ikeda

Shinmura

Mizoe

Yoshizawa

Yoshida

Kanao

Sumitani

Hasebe

Mo-Tomura

Yamakawa

Mizuno

Otaka

and Hirose

. 2003. No effects of extremely low frequency magnetic fields found on cytotoxic activities and cytokine production of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells in vitro. Bioelectromagnetics 24:21.

21.

Durand

D.M.

2003. Electric field effects in hyperexcitable neural tissue: a review. Radial. Prot. Dosimetry 106:325.

22.

Jankovic

B.D.

Marie

Ranin

and Veljic

. 1991. Magnetic fields, brain and immunity: effect on humoral and cell-mediated responses. Int. J. Neurosci 59:25.

23.

Bonhomme-Faivre

Marion

Forestier

Santini

and Auclair

. 2003. Effects of electro magnetic fields on the immune systems of occupèationally exposed humans and mice. Arch. Environ. Health 58:712.

24.

House

R.V.

and McCormick

D.L.

. 2000. Modulation of natural killer cell function after exposure to 60 Hz magnetic fields: confirmation of the effect in mature B6C3F1 mice. Radiat. Res. 153:722.

25.

Sienkiewicz

Z.J.

Haylock

R.G.

and Saunders

R.D.

. 1998. Deficits in spatial learning after exposure of mice to a 50 Hz magnetic field. Bioelectromagnetics 19:79.

26.

Lockwood

D.R.

Kwon

Smith

J.C.

and Houpt

T.A.

. 2003. Behavioural effects of static high magnetic fields on unrestrained and restrained mice. Physiol. Behav. 78:635.

27.

Del Seppia

Mezzasalma

Choleris

Luschi

and Ghione

. 2003. Effects of magnetic field exposure on open field behaviour and nociceptive response in mice. Behav. Brain Res. 144:1.

28.

Hanson

H.A.

1988. Effects on the nervous system by exposure to electromagnetic fields: experimental and clinical studies. Prog. Clin. Biol. Res. 257:119.

29.

Zecca

Mantegazza

Margonato

Cerretelli

Caniatti

Piva

dondi

and Hagino

. 1998. Biological effects of prolonged exposure to ELF electromagnetic fields in rats: III. 50 Hz electromagnetic fiels. Bioelectromagnetics 19:57.

30.

Persinger

M.A.

McKay

B.E.

O'Donovan

C.A.

and Koren

S.A.

. 2005. Sudden death in epileptic rats exposed to nocturnal magnetic fields that simulate the shape and the intensity of sudden changes in geomagnetic activity: an experiment in response to Scnabel, Beblo and May. Int. J. Biometereol. 49:256.

31.

Prikryl

and Kucerova

. 2005. Occurrence of epileptic paroxysm during repetitive trancranial magnetic stimulation treatment. J. Psycopharmacol. 19:313.

32.

Poole

Kavet

Funch

D.P.

Donelan

Charry

J.M.

and Dreyer

N.A.

. 1993. depressive symptoms and headaches in relation to proximity of residence to an alternating-current transmission line right-of-way. Am. J. Epidemiol. 137:318.

33.

Roosli

Moser

Baldinini

Meier

and Braun-Fahrlander

. 2004. Symptoms of hill health ascribed to electromagnetic field exposure—a questionnaire survey. Int. J. Hyg. Environ. Health 207:141.

34.

Aurora

S.K.

Cao

Bowyer

S.M.

and Welch

K.M.A.

. 1999. The occipital cortex is hyperexcitable in migraine: experimental evidence. Headache 39:469.

35.

Mulleners

W.M.

Chronicle

E.P.

Palmer

J.E.

Koehler

P.J.

and Vredeveld

J.W.

. 2001. Visual cortex excitability in migraine with and without aura. Headache 41:565.

36.

Brighina

Giglia

Scalia

Francolini

Palermo

and Fierro

. 2005. Facilitatory effects of 1 Hz rTMS in motor cortex of patients affected by migraine with aura. Exp. Brain Res. 161:34.

37.

Cocco

P.L.

Cocco

M.E.

Paghi

. 2005. Neuroendocrinal. Lett. 26:136.

38.

Levallois

Dumont

Touitou

Ginras

Masse

Gauvin

Kroger

Bourdages

and Douville

. 2001. Effects of electric and magnetic fields from high-power lines on female urinary excretion of 6-sulfatoxymelatonin. Am. J. Epidemiol. 154:601.

39.

Burch

J.B.

Reif

J.F.

Noonan

C.W.

Ichinoise

Bachand

A.M.

Koleber

T.L.

and Yost

M.G.

. 2002. Melatonin metabolite excretion among cellular telephone users. Int. J. Radiat. Biol. 78:1029.

40.

Graham

Sastre

Cook

M.R.

and Gerkovich

M.M.

. 2001. All night exposure to EMF does not alter urinary melatonin, 6-OHM immune measures in older men and women. J. Pineal. Res. 31:109.

41.

Bortkiewicz

Pilacik

Gadzicka

and Szymczak

. 2000. The excretion of 6-hydroximelatonin sulphate in healthy young men exposed to electromagnetic fields emitted by cellular phone - an experimental study. Neuroendocrinal. Lett. 23 (S): 88.

42.

Bergamaschi

Magrini

Ales

Coppetta

and Somma

. 2004. Are thyroid dysfunctions related to stress or microwave exposure (900 Hz)? Int. J. Immunopathol. Pharmacol. 17 (S): 31.

43.

Werthimer

and Leeper

1979. Electrical wiring configurations and childhood leukemia. Am. J. Epidemiol. 109:273.

44.

Linet

M.S.

Hatch

E.E.

Kleinerman

R.A.

. 1997. Residential exposure to magnetic fields and acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children. N. Engl. J. Med. 337:1.

45.

IARC monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks of Humans. Statics and extremely low-frequency electric and magnetic fields, (vol. 80) 19–26 June 2001.

46.

Michelozzi

Capon

Kirchmayer

Forastiere

Biggeri

Barca

and Perucci

C.A.

. 2002. Adult and chidhood leukemia mortality near a high power radio station in Rome, Italy. Epidemiol. Prev. 25:249.

47.

Park

S.K.

and Im

H.J.

. 2004. Im. Ecological studies on residences in the vicinity of AM radio broadcasting towers and cancer death: preliminary observations in Korea. Int. Arch. Occup. Environ. Health 77:387.

48.

Knave

Electromagnetic fields and health outcomes. 26^th Int. Cong. Occup. Health, Singapore, 27^th August, I^st September 2000, key-note addresses n 9, pp. 7. 7–8.4.

49.

Breckenkamp

Berg

and Blettner

. 2003. Biological effects on human health due to radiofrequency/microwave exposure: a synopsis of cohort studies. Radiat. Environ. Biophys. 42:141.

50.

Reichard

S.M.

Allison

J.D.

Figueroa

R.E.

Dickinson

M.M.

and Reese

A.C.

. 1996. Leukocite trafficking in response to magnetic resonance imaging. Experientia 52:51.

51.

Bergier

Lisiewicz

Moszczynski

Rucinska

and Sasiedek

. 1990. Effect of electromagnetic radiation on T-lymphocyte subpopulations and immnunoglobulin level in human blood serum after occupational exposure. Med. Prev. 41:211.

52.

Dasdag

Sert

Akdag

and Batum

. 2002. Effects of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields on hematologic and immunologic parameters in welders. Arch. Med. Res. 33:29.

53.

Ichinose

T.Y.

Burch

J.B.

Noonan

C.W.

Yost

M.G.

Keefe

T.J.

Bachand

Mandeville

and Reifs

J.S.

. 2004. Immune markers and ornithine decarboxylase activity among electric utility workers. J. Occup. Environ. Med. 46:104.

54.

Boscolo

Bergamaschi

Di Sciascio

M.B.

Benvenuti

Reale

Di Stefano

Conti

and Di Gioacchino

. 2001 Effects of low frequency electromagnetic fields on expression of lymphocyte subsets and production of cytokines of men and women employed in a museum. Sci. Total Environ. 270:13.

55.

Di Giampaolo

Di Donato

Antonucci

Palardini

Travaglini

Spagnoli

Magrini

Reale

Dadorante

Iannaccone

Di Sciascio

M.B.

Di Gioacchino

and Boscolo

. 2006. Follow up study on the immune response to low frequency electromagnetic fields in men and women working in a museum. Int. J. Immunopathol. Pharmacol. 19 (S): 37.

56.

Boscolo

Di Sciascio

M.B.

D'Ostilii

Del Signore

Reale

Conti

Bavazzano

Paganelli

and Di Gioacchino

. 2001. Effects of electromagnetic fields produced by radiotelevision broadcasting stations on the immune system of women. Sci. Total Environ. 273:1.

57.

Boscolo

Di Giampaolo

Di Donato

Antonuccci

Palardini

Travaglini

Spagnoli

Reale

Dadorante

Kouri

and Di Gioacchino

. 2006. The immune response of women with prolonged exposure to electromagnetic fields produced by radiotelevision broadcasting stations. Int. J. Immunopathol. Pharmacol. 19 (S): 43.

58.

Spielberger

C.D.

Gorsuch

R.L.

and Lushene

R.E.

. 1970. Manual of the State-Trait-Anxiety-Inventory, Consulting Psychologists Press, Palo Alto, CA.

59.

Marino

A.A.

Wolcott

R. M.

Chervenak

Jourd'heuil

Nielsen

Frilot

2nd and Pruett

S. B.

. 2001. Coincident nonlinear changes in the endocrine and immune systems due to low-frequency magnetic fields. Neuroimmunomodulation 9:65.

60.

Del Signore

Boscolo

Kouri

Di Martino

and Giuliano

. 2000. Combined effects of traffic and electromagnetic fields on the immune system of fertile atopic women. Industrial Health 38:294.

Combined Effects of Electromagnetic Fields on Immune and Nervous Responses

Abstract

Keywords

References