Mechanisms of the target response to magnetic fields and their correlation with the biological complexity

Abstract

The present contribution points to the mechanisms of bioresponse caused by magnetic fields, paying attention to their action not only at the ionic, molecular or macromolecular levels but also at the levels of cells, tissues and organisms. The significance of findings concerning the magnetic-field dependence of cell proliferation, necrosis or apoptosis and cell volume or membrane fluidity is judged by comparing the results obtained in a solenoid, where a magnetic field can be added to the geomagnetic field, with those obtained in a magnetically shielded room, where the magnetic fields can be attenuated or null. This comparative criterion was particularly required when the differences found between the data provided by experimental samples and the data provided by control samples are small per se, as observed in estimating the magnetic-field dependence of expression of single genes or the magnetic-field dependence of total genome replication, transcription and translation. The report analyzes the magnetic-field dependence of the interactions between host animal cells and infecting bacteria and, in the framework of studies on the origin and adaptation of life on Earth, theoretical insights paving the way to elucidating the mechanisms of magnetic-field interactions with biosystems of different orders of organization are considered from the viewpoint of the ''biological windows'' thermodynamics. Thus, analogously to what is known for ionizing radiations, an inverse correlation emerged between the intensity of given magnetic fields and the biological complexity.

Impact of physical factors on the society and environment

“…The above statements are well confirmed by Volpe and Eremenko (2007) attempting to link the responses of living systems to their biological complexity. Belova et al (2007) paid a special attention on the biological effects of alternating magnetic fields originated from natural and technogenic sources.…”

A Theoretical Overview of Bioresponse to Magnetic Fields on the Earth’s Surface

“…Even if the observations considered by this overview showed a generalized influence of MFs on biological targets, the analysis of the data available on a larger scale paved the way towards the assumption of an inverse correlation between the degree of sensitivity to MFs and the order of complexity of these targets [110]. The assumption was judged in relation to the inverse correlation established several years ago between the intensity of ionizing radiation and the position of species in evolution: the highest tendency to radiostability was found to characterize bacteria; the lowest tendency to radiostability was found to characterize mammals [111].…”

“…From this angle of view, an intensive metabolism would keep "opening" all biological windows of a biostructure, but a weak metabolism should reduce their number or "close" them at all. The behaviour of cell viability or cell necrosis as a function of the MF-intensity might account for such an issue fairly well: the MTB infection, leading a HM to its internal dissolvement, attenuated at the same time its sensitivity to MFs (Figure 2); similarly, a partial attenuation of MF-sensitivity was exhibited by the apoptotic patterns of MTB-infected HMs [87] [88] [105] [110] and by their monoclonal antibody reactions, shown by expression of the CD14 and CD64 membrane protein markers (Figure 3).…”

“…Summarizing about the survival, for at least three and half billions of years, of thousands and thousands of prokaryotic and eukaryotic species in the natural MF-mosaic of the Earth's surface, any reasonable prediction on their future evolution-following possible MF "subtractions" (as in the extraterrestrial space) or MF "additions" (as in the electrified areas) [110]-should be questionable. Will the artificial MF-variations, especially when prolonged, cause differential dysfunctions to biosystems, by virtue of their complexity?…”