Microwaves and cellular immunity I. Effect of whole body microwave irradiation on tumor necrosis factor production in mouse cells

Whole body microwave sinusoidal irradiation of male NMRI mice with 8.15-18 GHz (1 Hz within) at a power density of 1 muW/cm(2) caused a significant en hancement of TNF production in peritoneal macrophages and splenic T lymphoc ytes. Microwave radiation affected T cells, facilitating their capacity to proliferate in response to mitogenic stimulation. The exposure duration nec essary for the stimulation of cellular immunity ranged from 5 h to 3 days. Chronic irradiation of mice for 7 days produced the decreasing of TNF produ ction in peritoneal macrophages. The exposure of mice for 24 h increased th e TNF production and immune proliferative response, and these stimulatory e ffects persisted over 3 days after the termination of exposure. Microwave t reatment increased the endogenously produced TNF more effectively than did lipopolysaccharide, one of the most potential stimuli of synthesis of this cytokine. The role of microwaves as a factor interfering with the process o f cell immunity is discussed. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights res erved.