Modified Methylation Following Electrostimulation in a Standardized Setting-Complementing a Transcriptomic Analysis

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Cell Biology
• Epigenetics

Background:

• Electrical stimulation (ES) is utilized in clinical therapies and research for tissue regeneration, wound healing, and inflammation control.
• ES influences DNA demethylation, a key process in nerve regeneration and cellular repair.
• The broader impact of ES on cellular functions, especially in inflammation and wound healing, requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the differential effects of ES on DNA methylation.
• To explore the correlation between ES, DNA methylation, and age acceleration using a mitotic clock.
• To understand the mechanistic details of ES in controlling senescent processes.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a 3D in vitro model with human fibroblasts and keratinocytes in a collagen matrix.
• Applied direct current (DC) stimulation at 1 V (DC1).
• Analyzed transcriptomic and metabolomic profiles.
• Investigated DNA methylation patterns and correlated them with a mitotic clock for age acceleration.

Main Results:

• ES differentially affects DNA methylation in inflamed versus non-inflamed samples.
• Direct current stimuli at 1 V (DC1) show potential involvement in controlling senescence associated with mitosis and inflammation.
• Modulation of transcriptomic and metabolomic profiles by ES was observed in the in vitro model.

Conclusions:

• Electrical stimulation has a differential impact on DNA methylation in inflamed and non-inflamed cellular models.
• DC1 may play a role in regulating senescence, mitosis, and inflammation, warranting further mechanistic studies.
• ES impacts cellular functions beyond direct tissue repair, influencing epigenetic regulation and aging processes.