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Exposure to low-frequency pulsed electromagnetic fields increases mitogen- induced lymphocyte proliferation in Down’s syndrome

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Abstract

We previously reported that exposure of human mitogen-stimulated peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) to extremely low frequency pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) could restore the defective proliferative capability of PBL from aged subjects. The effects of exposure to PEMFs were studied in PBL from 25 patients with Down’s syndrome (DS), a syndrome of premature aging characterized by precocious immune system derangement, including age-related defective PBL proliferative capability. PBL were stimulated with different doses of phytohemagglutinin, and cell proliferation was assessed by measuring the incorporation of tritiated thymidine. After PEMF-exposure, a significant increase in cell proliferation was observed in cells from DS children and young adults, but it was much more evident in PBL from relatively aged DS patients. The age-related effect of PEMFs on DS lymphocytes demonstrates that age must be considered a major variable when studies on DS are performed, and confirms that DS must be regarded as a syndrome of accelerated aging. (Aging 3: 241–246, 1991)

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of General Pathology, University of Modena School of Medicine, via Campi 287, 41100, Modena, Italy

    A. Cossarizza, D. Monti &  C. Franceschi

  2. Department of Physics, University of Bologna, Bologna

    F. Bersani

  3. C.N.R.-I.R.E.C.E., Napoli

    M.R. Scarfi

  4. Institute of Histology and General Embriology, University of Bologna, Bologna

    M. Zanotti

  5. Center for Experimental Hematology, University of Modena, Modena, Italy

    R. Cadossi

Authors
  1. A. Cossarizza
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  2. D. Monti
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  4. M.R. Scarfi
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  5. M. Zanotti
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  6. R. Cadossi
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  7. C. Franceschi
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Cossarizza, A., Monti, D., Bersani, F. et al. Exposure to low-frequency pulsed electromagnetic fields increases mitogen- induced lymphocyte proliferation in Down’s syndrome. Aging Clin Exp Res 3, 241–246 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03324014

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