'CASRP: Center of Advanced Scientific Research and Publications'
Doi
Abstract
Background: The queston of whether low levels of non-ionizing radiatons such as the radiofrequency electromagnetc fields (RF-EMF) can induce the same positve immune responses remains unanswered. This study aimed to investgate the effects of non-ionizing RF-EMF on some parameters of the immune system in an animal model following infecton with Salmonella Typhimurium and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Materials and Methods: Male BALB/c mice were exposed to RF-EMFs generated by a common GSM mobile phone for 3 days. Animals were infected with K. pneumonia or S. Typhimurium on the 4thday. On the7thday after injecton, blood samples were collected by cardiac puncture. The specific antbodies against bacteria were determined by agglutnaton method and serum levels of the cytokines were measured using the ELISA method. Moreover, the leukocytes count was measured using a cell counter. Results: The levels of specific antbodies against bacteria were higher in non-irradiated mice compared to irradiated mice. There were no significant differences between the irradiated and non-irradiated mice regarding the total blood leukocyte count. The mean serum levels of IFN-γ and IL-17 after infecton with K. pneumoniae were significantly higher in the irradiated mice (p<0.001). Conclusions: Low levels of RF-EMF can stmulate the immune responses in the mice pre-exposed to RF-EMF. This study provides further evidence supportng that exposure to certain levels of RF-EMF can stmulate the immune system. These adaptve responses may be applied to cope with the increased susceptbility of the astronauts to infectons during a deep space mission
