Bio-Field Array: The Influence of Junction Mediating and Regulatory Protein Expression on Cytoskeletal Filament...

Area of Science:

• Biophysics
• Cell Biology
• Oncology

Background:

• The Bio-Field Array (BFA) generates a dielectrophoretic electromagnetic field (DEP-EMF) using a direct current (dc) in saline solution.
• Human triple-negative breast cancer (MDA-MB-231 cells) often exhibits p53 deficiency, leading to poor treatment outcomes.
• Previous studies showed BFA DEP-EMF treatment upregulates the apoptotic pathway and annexin staining in these cancer cells.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate cytoskeletal microtubule alterations in MDA-MB-231 cells treated with BFA's dc DEP-EMF.
• To explore the correlation between observed microtubule changes and the upregulation of Junction Mediating and Regulatory Protein (JMY).
• To understand JMY's role as a p53 cofactor in regulating cytoskeleton microfilaments (actin) during apoptosis.

Main Methods:

• Microarray analysis
• Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR)
• 7-day fluorescent microscopic analysis of tubulin assays in treated and control MDA-MB-231 cells.

Main Results:

• Significant upregulation of Junction Mediating and Regulatory Protein (JMY), a Nucleation-Promoting Factor (NPF), was observed via microarray and RT-qPCR.
• Cytoskeletal microtubule changes, suggestive of apoptosis, were identified in treated MDA-MB-231 cells.
• Two distinct forms of apoptosis, rounded and irregular, were indicated, potentially facilitated by JMY upregulation.

Conclusions:

• BFA dc DEP-EMF treatment significantly upregulates JMY in MDA-MB-231 cells.
• This upregulation may influence both unbranched (microtubule spikes) and branched (autophagy) actin forms.
• The observed effects suggest a potential mechanism for inducing necrosis-like apoptosis ('two coffins') in this aggressive, apoptosis-deficient breast cancer cell line.