EN
AIM. We investigated effects of pulsating electromagnetic field (PEMF-50 Hz, 45 ± 5 mT) on viability and cytokine production by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from healthy donors and from Crohn’s disease patients (CD). METHODS. The study was performed after activation of cells with phytohaemaglutinin (PHA) and lipopolisaccharide (LPS). Exposure of PBMC cultures to PEMF from both CD patients and from healthy donors decreased cell’s viability of about 10% and 5% (p>0,05) respectively. PEMF influence was most effective after threefold application. Susceptibility of PBMCs to magnetic field exposure differs among the stimulated (PHA, LPS) and not stimulated (NS) cells. Mitogen activated cells during cell division are most susceptible to induction of the cell death as a result of magnetic interaction, contrary PEMF exposure has minimal effect on non-diving PBMCs from CD patients and from controls. Decreased viability of the Crohn derived cells upon magnetic stimulation was accompanied by altered cytokines profile. Exposed and stimulated PBMCs from Crohn patients decreased IFN- proinflammatory and increased IL-10 anti-inflammatory cytokine production. The electromagnetically induced cell death could be an important step for non-invasive PEMF treatment in chronic inflammatory diseases.