Nuove Frontiere in Medicina

Tratto da: “The Center Frontier Science at temple Univerwsity”

Electromagnetic Fields and Living Matter Neoplastic CelIuIar Culture

Cell Fusion (Grade 1)

In figures 1 through 5 the effects on neoplastic HeLa cells in contrast phase can be seen through the microscope. The culture was exposed to electromagnetic waves with a frequency in the megahertz range and a power of 0.25 watts for a period of about three hours. The electromagnetic energy modulated in this way brings about cytoplasmic celi fu­ion, which produces up to a maximum of five cells, after which cell necrosis occurs.
In these figures the approach of the two cell structures, located in the center of the picture, can be seen until their fusion occurs. In figure 3 the membranes come into contact at which point the potential cell alteration can be noted (Grade 1). The above phenomenon was first noticed in 1970 and has been repeated a number of times; it was also reported at the Balcanico International Congress of 1979.

Cell Fusion and Necrosis (Grade 2)

Figures 6 through 9 indicate the progressive fusion and necrosis in vitro of cancer cells of the CC-178 line.
These observations were con­ducted by the Department of Hematology and Oncology at the University of Hanover by sub jecting the cells to electromagnetic waves with frequencies in the megahertz range at a power of 0.25 watts for a period of about two hours.

Influence of Electromagnetic Fields on Cell Functions

The preliminary observations conducted in vitro show an alteration of cell morphology, a halt to proliferation, fusion, and necrosis in lymphoblastoid cell lines and in some neoplastic lines, after treatment with specificaliy modulated electromagnetic fieids (HeLa, mammary carcinoma, CCL-178, colon adenocarcinoma, H 23, H 32, h 12.1, 1411 H, testicle carcinoma, M 5, MSi, stomach carcinoma, MCF-7 human Caucasian breast adenocarcinoma ECACC 86012803, normal cell line, and MDBK bovine kidney cells) (16).

It is known that cells communicate with each other by means of direct metabolic exchanges or through the transfer of ions or molecules that act as messengers. Multicell signals which originate in the interaction of ligands with membrane receptors can activate a closely connected series of bio­chemical reactions. The biological membranes represent multimolecular operative structures, and even a slight alteration in the composition of the membrane can Iead to significant changes in its functions. Electromagnetic fields can infiuence this communication between cells and within the cells themselves due to their ability to activate or change the motion of the electricai charges.
In fact, an increasing amount of literature iilustrates the possibility of inducing biological effects in cells when appropriate electrical and magnetic fields are applied to have a direct effect on the membranes (94, 95, 96, 97).

Among the various effects obtained are those on Na+ and K+ dynamics and their role in ATPasi, as well as the effects on the inter­membrane exchanges of the Ca++ ion, which, because of its presence in most biomolecular processes, has earned the name of second messenger (94). Moreover, exposure conditions that have led to effects on the membrane permeabiiity of the Ca++ ion have shown a negative influence on the mitotic fuso, and this influ­ence is selectively tied to the characteristics of the magnetic field used. Up to now, the results obtained imply that the membrane receptors (e.g., the glucoprotein complexes), are able to decipher electrical signals at a well defined frequency and amplitude by reacting in a specific way. The energy transformed from the electrical field is absorbed and directly coupled to guide biochenucal reactions.
These results have served as the bases for some applications in the therapeutic field, particularly in the reproduction of bone tissue. (98) This is due to the fact that the activation of some cell functions is bound to eiectrical potentials of the on/off type, that is, not with linear but with rectangular waveshapes.

Cell Fusion and Necrosis (Grade 2)

The possibility that weak electric or magnetic fields can send signals past the strong potential barrier of the cytoplasmic membrane (100 KV/cm) can be explained by the hypothesis of the phenomena of resonance on certain kinds of ions (101), the cooperative gap­junction type phenomena (102, 103), and the amplification effects explained by the set up of a field gradient between the inside and outside of a spherical shell made up of three layers of dielectric properties (95). The treated cells were examined with an electron microscope that showed ultra­structural alterations in the following areas:

• Cytoskeleton fiber—at the structure alteration Ievel with an inaease in fibers compared to the control and with a more irregular disposition and orientation
• Mitochondrion—a different orientation of the mitochondrion crests and an alteration of the mitochondrion matrix which appears dishomog­eneous and pycnotic compared to the control
• Autophages— intra-cytoplasmic bodies in many cells Moreover, the following can be noted:
• Chromatin degeneration
• Thickening of the chromatin at the nuclear membrane level
• Nucleus vacuolization
• Mitochondrial degeneration

These types of alterations, especially at the nuclear level, suggest the hypothesis that an apoptotic type of phenomenon was induced by the treatment.

The characteristics of the equipment for these studies was as follows: 10w power (0.25 watts) electromagnetic waves with frequencies in the kilohertz range and magnetic fields and electrostatic fields specifically modulated ac­cording to the Gorgun method (GEMM: Modulated electromagnetic generator).