Effect of low power millimeter wave irradiation on HL60 cellular membrane permeability by lanthanum tracing detection / 中国组织工程研究

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: There are some studies proposing cell membrane may be one of target cell regions for electromagnetic biological effects. However, reports responsible for cellular membrane permeability and cellular biological effects after electromagnetic irradiation are few. OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to investigate the correlations of low-power millimeter wave irradiation to cellular membrane permeability and apoptosis of HL60.DESIGN: Controlled experiment.SETTING: Thus study was performed at the Medical Experimental Central Laboratory, Guangzhou General Hospital,Guangzhou Military Area Command of Chinese PLA between November 2006 and April 2007. MATERIALS The human leukemic cell lines HL60 were kindly provided by Medical Experimental Center of Guangzhou Military Area Command of Chinese PLA and HD-413.2HPSG 100 millimeter wave irradiation generator was developed by Xi'an Hengda Microwave Technology Development Company, China. METHODS: HL60 cells were irradiated by millimeter wave at frequency of 41.32 GHz and mean power density of 2 mW/cm2, and divided into five groups according to the irradiation time (0, 15, 30, 45, 60 minutes groups).MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Lanthanum tracing was used to observe intracellular and extracellular lanthanum particles distribution and evaluate the change of cellular membrane permeability; ultrastructure and morphological characteristics of HL60 cells were observed through an transmission electron microscope; Quantitative analysis of apoptotic cells was performed by in situ marking method. RESULTS: In the 45 and 60 minutes groups, a small amount of lanthanum particles in the cytoplasm, swollen mitochondria, expanded rough endoplasmic reticulum, and obvious apoptosis were detected by ultrastructure observation. TUNEL staining showed, compared with the 0 minute control group, the apoptosis rate showed a trend of elevation in all the irradiation groups, particularly in the 45 and 60 minutes groups. CONCLUSION: Low-power millimeter wave irradiation on HL60 cells can lead to an increase in cellular membrane permeability of HL60, which may be one of the primary causes for promoting apoptosis and producing other biological effects.