EFFECTS OF 300 mT STATIC MAGNETIC FIELD ON IL-8 SECRETION IN NORMAL HUMAN COLON MYOFIBROBLASTS.

Intestinal subepithelial myofibroblasts play a crucial role in the growth and development of the intestine. Colitis, small bowel injury, gastric ulcer disease and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) accompany the increase in the count of activated myofibroblasts. In the last few years, the increasing production of electromagnetic (EMF) and static magnetic (SMF) fields due to the expanding use of electronic devices in everyday life, has led to a number of studies on the effects of these fields on living organisms. Because of its anti-inflammatory properties, EMF therapy may be of medical use as an IBD treatment. This mechanism has not been elucidated yet. In the present work normal human colon myofibroblasts were exposed to SMF with a flux density of 300 mT for 96 h and then the cells were cultured for 24 and 48 h with 25 mM sodium butyrate (NaB) and 10 mM 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) in either the presence or absence of SMF. Tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α)--dependent IL-8 secretion was determined with ELISA kit. Cell viability was determined with XTT assay. It was shown that SMF has no effect on TNF-α--dependent IL-8 secretion in control cells and in cells cultured in the presence of 5-ASA and NaB.