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Calcium bursts induced by nanosecond electric pulses.
P Thomas Vernier1, Yinghua Sun, Laura Marcu
1Department of Electrical Engineering-Electrophysics, School of Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0271, USA. vernier@mosis.org
Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
|October 3, 2003
Summary
High-intensity, nanosecond pulsed electric fields rapidly trigger calcium bursts and membrane changes in human lymphocytes. These effects precede apoptosis and differ from electroporation, highlighting a novel cellular perturbation mechanism.
Area of Science:
- Cellular Electrophysiology
- Molecular Biology
- Biophysics
Background:
- Pulsed electric fields (PEFs) are used in various biological applications.
- Understanding the precise effects of ultra-short, high-field PEFs on cells is crucial.
- Distinguishing PEF effects from traditional electroporation is an area of active research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate real-time cellular responses in human lymphocytes exposed to nanosecond pulsed electric fields (nsPEFs).
- To characterize the immediate effects of nsPEFs on intracellular calcium levels and plasma membrane integrity.
- To differentiate nsPEF-induced cellular perturbations from electroporation.
Main Methods:
- Real-time imaging of calcium dynamics in human Jurkat T lymphoblasts.
- Exposure of cells to ultra-short (less than 30 ns), high-field (greater than 1 MV/m) electric pulses.
- Assessment of phosphatidylserine (PS) externalization and caspase activation as indicators of cellular response.
Main Results:
- nsPEFs induced rapid calcium bursts within milliseconds in the cytosol of human lymphocytes.
- PS externalization occurred within minutes, even in the presence of caspase inhibitors.
- nsPEF effects, including calcium bursts and PS translocation, were distinct from electroporation, as they did not involve cell poration.
Conclusions:
- Ultra-short, high-field nsPEFs cause rapid, non-porating electroperturbative effects on cell membranes.
- Calcium bursts and PS translocation are early events following nsPEF exposure, preceding apoptosis.
- The mechanism of nsPEF-induced cellular changes differs significantly from conventional electroporation.