Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2013
Publication Title
PloS One
Volume
8
Issue
7
Pages
e70278
DOI
10.1371/journal.pone.0070278
Abstract
High-amplitude electric pulses of nanosecond duration, also known as nanosecond pulsed electric field (nsPEF), are a novel modality with promising applications for cell stimulation and tissue ablation. However, key mechanisms responsible for the cytotoxicity of nsPEF have not been established. We show that the principal cause of cell death induced by 60- or 300-ns pulses in U937 cells is the loss of the plasma membrane integrity (‘‘nanoelectroporation’’), leading to water uptake, cell swelling, and eventual membrane rupture. Most of this early necrotic death occurs within 1–2 hr after nsPEF exposure. The uptake of water is driven by the presence of pore-impermeable solutes inside the cell, and can be counterbalanced by the presence of a pore-impermeable solute such as sucrose in the medium. Sucrose blocks swelling and prevents the early necrotic death; however the long-term cell survival (24 and 48 hr) does not significantly change. Cells protected with sucrose demonstrate higher incidence of the delayed death (6–24 hr post nsPEF). These cells are more often positive for the uptake of an early apoptotic marker dye YO-PRO-1 while remaining impermeable to propidium iodide. Instead of swelling, these cells often develop apoptotic fragmentation of the cytoplasm. Caspase 3/7 activity increases already in 1 hr after nsPEF and poly-ADP ribose polymerase (PARP) cleavage is detected in 2 hr. Staurosporin-treated positive control cells develop these apoptotic signs only in 3 and 4 hr, respectively. We conclude that nsPEF exposure triggers both necrotic and apoptotic pathways. The early necrotic death prevails under standard cell culture conditions, but cells rescued from the necrosis nonetheless die later on by apoptosis. The balance between the two modes of cell death can be controlled by enabling or blocking cell swelling.
Original Publication Citation
Pakhomova ON, Gregory BW, Semenov I, Pakhomov AG. Two modes of cell death caused by exposure to nanosecond pulsed electric field. PloS One. 2013;8(7):e70278. Epub 2013/07/31. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0070278.
Repository Citation
Pakhomova, Olga N.; Gregory, Betsy W.; Semenov, Iurii; and Pakhomov, Andrei G., "Two Modes of Cell Death Caused by Exposure to Nanosecond Pulsed Electric Field" (2013). Bioelectrics Publications. 3.
https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/bioelectrics_pubs/3
Comments
Original article:
Pakhomova ON, Gregory BW, Semenov I, Pakhomov AG. Two modes of cell death caused by exposure to nanosecond pulsed electric field. PloS One. 2013;8(7):e70278. Epub 2013/07/31. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0070278.