Content of pro-inflammatory cytokines in mice thymus tissue under conditions of chronic exposure to low-intensity elec- tromagnetic field

   The thymus, being the central or primary lymphoid organ of the immune system, plays a vital role in creating and maintaining a suitable microenvironment for the differentiation of T-lymphocyte precursors into immunocompetent cells, as well as the selection and differentiation of T-cells, the integration of various populations of thymocytes and macrophages to implement an immune response. All this determines the sensitivity of the thymus to the effects of various types of stress factors, such as ionizing radiation, stress, bad habits, etc. The high rate of development and introduction into everyday life of wireless data transmission devices — cell phones, Wi-Fi, which are a source of radio frequency electromagnetic fields, pose an extremely important task for scientists to assess the possibility of adverse effects of this type of radiation on human health and, in particular, on the immune system.

   The aim of this work was to analyze the content of proinflammatory cytokines — IL-1β, TNF-α and IFN-γ in the thymus tissue of mice chronically exposed to the electromagnetic field (EMF) of a Wi-Fi device (2,45 GHz, PD= 0,46 ± 0,37 µW/cm², 24 h/day, daily) from the age of 30 days until they reach 7 months.

   The identified changes in the content of proinflammatory cytokines in the thymus tissue of mice chronically exposed to low-intensity EMF indicate the possibility of this factor to influence the morphofunctional activity of the thymus, namely its signaling and transcriptional functions, including the molecular mechanisms underlying the differentiation and migration of T cells, which can lead to a change in the regulatory functions of T cells and their role in the immune system.

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