Szabo Imre, Manning Michael R, Radzievsky Alexander A, Wetzel Michele A, Rogers Thomas J, Ziskin Marvin C
Center for Biomedical Physics, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19140, USA.
Bioelectromagnetics. 2003 Apr;24(3):165-73. doi: 10.1002/bem.10077.
Low power millimeter wave (LP-MW) irradiation has been successfully used in clinical practice as an independent and/or supplemental therapy in patients with various diseases. It is still not clear, however, whether exposed skin is directly affected by repeated LP-MW irradiation and whether cells of the epidermis can be activated by the absorbed energy. Keratinocytes, the most numerous component of the epidermis are believed to manifest functional responses to physical stimuli. In this study we analyzed whether LP-MW irradiation modulated the production of chemokines, including RANTES and IP-10 of keratinocytes in vitro. We also investigated whether LP-MW irradiation induces a heat stress reaction in keratinocytes, and stimulates heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) production. Vital staining of keratinocytes with carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl ester and ethidium bromide was used to analyze the MW effect on the viability of adherent cells. In addition, we studied the effect of LP-MW irradiation on intercellular gap junctional communication in keratinocyte monolayers by Lucifer yellow dye transfer. We found no significant changes in constitutive RANTES and inducible IP-10 production following LP-MW irradiation. LP-MW exposure of keratinocyte monolayers did not alter Hsp70 production, unlike exposure to higher power MWs (HP-MW) or hyperthermia (43 degrees C; 1 h). LP-MW irradiation and hyperthermia did not alter the viability of adherent keratinocytes, while HP-MW irradiation induced cellular damage within the beam area. Finally, we found no alteration in the gap junctional intercellular communication of keratinocytes following LP-MW irradiation, which on the other hand, was significantly increased by hyperthermia. In summary, we detected no harmful effect of LP-MW irradiation on both keratinocyte function and structure in vitro, although these cells were sensitive to higher MW power that developed heat stress reaction and cellular damage. Our results provide further evidence that LP-MW irradiation does not induce evidence of skin inflammation or keratinocyte damage and that its clinical application appears to be safe.
低功率毫米波（LP-MW）照射已成功应用于临床实践，作为多种疾病患者的独立和/或辅助治疗方法。然而，目前尚不清楚反复进行LP-MW照射是否会直接影响暴露的皮肤，以及表皮细胞是否会被吸收的能量激活。角质形成细胞是表皮中数量最多的成分，被认为对物理刺激表现出功能反应。在本研究中，我们分析了LP-MW照射是否在体外调节角质形成细胞趋化因子的产生，包括调节激活正常T细胞表达和分泌的趋化因子（RANTES）和干扰素诱导蛋白10（IP-10）。我们还研究了LP-MW照射是否诱导角质形成细胞的热应激反应，并刺激热休克蛋白70（Hsp70）的产生。用羧基荧光素琥珀酰亚胺酯和溴化乙锭对角质形成细胞进行活细胞染色，以分析毫米波对贴壁细胞活力的影响。此外，我们通过荧光素黄染料转移研究了LP-MW照射对角质形成细胞单层细胞间缝隙连接通讯 的影响。我们发现LP-MW照射后，组成型RANTES和诱导型IP-10的产生没有显著变化。与暴露于高功率毫米波（HP-MW）或热疗（43摄氏度；1小时）不同，角质形成细胞单层暴露于LP-MW不会改变Hsp70的产生。LP-MW照射和热疗不会改变贴壁角质形成细胞的活力，而HP-MW照射会在光束区域内诱导细胞损伤。最后，我们发现LP-MW照射后角质形成细胞的缝隙连接细胞间通讯没有改变，而热疗则显著增加了这种通讯。总之，我们在体外未检测到LP-MW照射对角质形成细胞功能和结构有有害影响，尽管这些细胞对产生热应激反应和细胞损伤的较高毫米波功率敏感。我们的结果提供了进一步的证据，表明LP-MW照射不会诱导皮肤炎症或角质形成细胞损伤的迹象，其临床应用似乎是安全的。
