Influence of millimeter-wave radiation on splenic T and B cell proliferation in mice

It was observed a significant increase in T cell proliferation at 10 and 30 days after millimeter-wave exposure (42.2 GHz, AM 10 Hz, 1 /spl mu/W/cm/sup 2/, for 90 min per day). In the contrast, mice exposed to millimeter waves for 20 days demonstrated a marked suppression in T lymphocyte proliferation. Other kinetics was demonstrated for B cell proliferation response to millimeter waves: weak millimeter waves diminished B cell proliferation on day 10 after repeated irradiation. Thus, mice exposed to millimeter waves for 20 and 30 days showed the remarkable increase in B cell proliferative activity. In addition, the changes in T and B cell number, as well as T/B ratio, were correlated with the variations in cell proliferation indexes. These results demonstrate nonmonotoneous (both immunostimulative and immunosuppressive) effects of weak millimeter-wave radiation on mouse immune system.