A temporal study on NF-κB-mediated autonomous inflammatory response in iPSC-CMs induced by microwave radiation

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Cell Biology
• Toxicology

Background:

• Human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived myocardial cells (iPSC-CMs) are crucial for studying cardiac function and disease.
• Understanding the impact of environmental factors like microwave radiation on iPSC-CMs is essential for public health and safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the mechanism of iPSC-CM damage induced by microwave exposure.
• To identify changes in inflammatory factors and their association with electrophysiological disorders.
• To elucidate the role of the dynamic sensing network in microwave-induced cardiac injury.

Main Methods:

• Exposure of iPSC-CMs to S-band microwaves (60 W/kg) for 30 minutes.
• Assessment of iPSC-CM activity, ultrastructure, calcium transients, and inflammatory factor expression using flow cytometry, transmission electron microscopy, Olink proteomics, and immunofluorescence.
• Analysis of damage effects and mechanisms at 1, 3, and 6 hours post-radiation.

Main Results:

• Microwave radiation significantly decreased iPSC-CM activity and damaged mitochondrial ultrastructure.
• Abnormal Ca2+ handling, altered calcium transient amplitude, and impaired action potential repolarization were observed.
• Dynamic inflammatory factor changes included IL-6-driven acute response, NF-κB pathway activation via IL-8, and CXCL11-dominated repair with VEGFA rebound.

Conclusions:

• Microwave radiation induces structural and functional damage to iPSC-CMs.
• Temporal regulation of inflammatory factors, involving IL-6, IL-8, CXCL11, and VEGFA, represents a novel mechanism of microwave-induced cardiac injury.
• Activation of the classical NF-κB pathway contributes to the inflammatory imbalance following microwave exposure.