Guerriero Fabio, Ricevuti Giovanni
Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Therapy, Section of Geriatrics, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy; Azienda di Servizi alla Persona, Istituto di Cura Santa Margherita of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
Neural Regen Res. 2016 Dec;11(12):1888-1895. doi: 10.4103/1673-5374.195277.
Increasing evidence shows that extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMFs) stimulation is able to exert a certain action on autoimmunity and immune cells. In the past, the efficacy of pulsed ELF-EMFs in alleviating the symptoms and the progression of multiple sclerosis has been supported through their action on neurotransmission and on the autoimmune mechanisms responsible for demyelination. Regarding the immune system, ELF-EMF exposure contributes to a general activation of macrophages, resulting in changes of autoimmunity and several immunological reactions, such as increased reactive oxygen species-formation, enhanced phagocytic activity and increased production of chemokines. Transcranial electromagnetic brain stimulation is a non-invasive novel technique used recently to treat different neurodegenerative disorders, in particular Alzheimer's disease. Despite its proven value, the mechanisms through which EMF brain-stimulation exerts its beneficial action on neuronal function remains unclear. Recent studies have shown that its beneficial effects may be due to a neuroprotective effect on oxidative cell damage. On the basis of and clinical studies on brain activity, modulation by ELF-EMFs could possibly counteract the aberrant pro-inflammatory responses present in neurodegenerative disorders reducing their severity and their onset. The objective of this review is to provide a systematic overview of the published literature on EMFs and outline the most promising effects of ELF-EMFs in developing treatments of neurodegenerative disorders. In this regard, we review data supporting the role of ELF-EMF in generating immune-modulatory responses, neuromodulation, and potential neuroprotective benefits. Nonetheless, we reckon that the underlying mechanisms of interaction between EMF and the immune system are still to be completely understood and need further studies at a molecular level.
越来越多的证据表明,极低频电磁场(ELF-EMFs)刺激能够对自身免疫和免疫细胞产生一定作用。过去,脉冲ELF-EMFs在缓解多发性硬化症状和疾病进展方面的功效,已通过其对神经传递以及对负责脱髓鞘的自身免疫机制的作用得到证实。关于免疫系统,ELF-EMF暴露会导致巨噬细胞全面激活,从而引起自身免疫和多种免疫反应的变化,如活性氧生成增加、吞噬活性增强以及趋化因子产生增多。经颅电磁脑刺激是一种最近用于治疗不同神经退行性疾病,特别是阿尔茨海默病的非侵入性新技术。尽管其价值已得到证实,但EMF脑刺激对神经元功能发挥有益作用的机制仍不清楚。最近的研究表明,其有益效果可能归因于对氧化细胞损伤的神经保护作用。基于对脑活动的基础研究和临床研究,ELF-EMFs的调制可能抵消神经退行性疾病中存在的异常促炎反应,减轻其严重程度并延缓其发病。本综述的目的是对已发表的关于EMFs的文献进行系统概述,并概述ELF-EMFs在开发神经退行性疾病治疗方法中最有前景的作用。在这方面,我们回顾了支持ELF-EMF在产生免疫调节反应、神经调节和潜在神经保护益处方面作用的数据。尽管如此,我们认为EMF与免疫系统之间相互作用的潜在机制仍有待完全理解,需要在分子水平上进行进一步研究。