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Project description:In the last few years, pulsed electric fields have emerged as promising clinical tools for tumor treatments. This study highlights the distinct impact of a specific pulsed electric field protocol named PEF-5 (0.3 MV/m, 40 µs, 5 pulses) on astrocytes (NHA), medulloblastoma (D283) and gli-oblastoma (U87 NS) cancer stem-like cells. We pursued this goal performing ultrastructural analyses corroborated by molecular/omics approaches to understand the vulnerability or re-sistance mechanisms triggered by PEF-5 exposure in the different cell types. Electron microscopic analyses showed that, independently of exposed cells, the main targets of PEF-5 were the cell membrane and the cytoskeleton, presenting indiscriminate filopodia disappearance on the cell surface accompanied by a rapid cell swelling. Nevertheless, cells activated different responses stemming from intracellular organelles. NHA triggered a protective mechanism to recover from the damaged membranes and eliminated the detrimental ROS to maintain cell vital functions. Conversely, PEF-5 induced a different action on mitochondria of cancer stem-like cells, more prominent on D283 compared to U87 NS cells, in correlation with a higher basal level of CD133 protein in D283 cells. In this case, a complete mitochondrial dysfunction was demonstrated, inhibiting the recovery of D283 vital processes, while a mild perturbation was observed in mito-chondria of U87 NS cells, not sufficient to impair their cell functions. Altogether, these results suggest the possibility to use PEF-based technology as a novel strategy to target selectively mi-tochondria of CSCs, preserving healthy cells. Ultrastructural analysis, supported by transcriptomic characterization in microsecond pulsed electric field exposed normal brain and brain tumor cells
2024-03-06 | GSE248600 | GEO
Project description:In the last few years, pulsed electric fields have emerged as promising clinical tools for tumor treatments. This study highlights the distinct impact of a specific pulsed electric field protocol named PEF-5 (0.3 MV/m, 40 µs, 5 pulses) on astrocytes (NHA), medulloblastoma (D283) and gli-oblastoma (U87 NS) cancer stem-like cells. We pursued this goal performing ultrastructural analyses corroborated by molecular/omics approaches to understand the vulnerability or re-sistance mechanisms triggered by PEF-5 exposure in the different cell types. Electron microscopic analyses showed that, independently of exposed cells, the main targets of PEF-5 were the cell membrane and the cytoskeleton, presenting indiscriminate filopodia disappearance on the cell surface accompanied by a rapid cell swelling. Nevertheless, cells activated different responses stemming from intracellular organelles. NHA triggered a protective mechanism to recover from the damaged membranes and eliminated the detrimental ROS to maintain cell vital functions. Conversely, PEF-5 induced a different action on mitochondria of cancer stem-like cells, more prominent on D283 compared to U87 NS cells, in correlation with a higher basal level of CD133 protein in D283 cells. In this case, a complete mitochondrial dysfunction was demonstrated, inhibiting the recovery of D283 vital processes, while a mild perturbation was observed in mito-chondria of U87 NS cells, not sufficient to impair their cell functions. Altogether, these results suggest the possibility to use PEF-based technology as a novel strategy to target selectively mi-tochondria of CSCs, preserving healthy cells. Ultrastructural analysis, supported by transcriptomic characterization in microsecond pulsed electric field exposed normal brain and brain tumor cells.
2024-03-06 | GSE248599 | GEO
Project description:We use a human whole genome microarray to analyze the effects of nanosecond pulsed electric fields on Jurkat cells with the focus on early response genes to DNA damage. Keywords: nanosecond pulsed electric fields, jurkat cells, DNA damage
2006-02-01 | GSE4106 | GEO
Project description:This review covers the use of pulsed electric fields in cancer therapy. It is organized into three sections based on pulse length, millisecond domain, microsecond domain, and nanosecond domain. The predominant application of pulsed electric fields is the modification of the permeability of cellular membranes, sometimes referred to as electroporation. This has been used in many different ways for cancer treatment. These include introducing genes into the tumor cells to activate an immune response, introducing poisons into the tumor cells, initiating necrosis using irreversible electroporation, and initiating immunogenic cell death with nanopulse stimulation.
| S-EPMC8370244 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Catheter ablation is an effective treatment to prevent recurrence of Atrial fibrillation (AF) and can be used to maintain sinus rhythm and improve symptoms of AF, but to some extent it can cause a range of adverse effects associated with catheter ablation. Pulsed electric field is a newer treatment modality to replace catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation due to its fewer side effects. Different from radiofrequency ablation, which destroys diseased myocardial tissue by thermal energy, pulsed electric field ablation achieves the purpose of atrial fibrillation ablation by inducing damage to diseased myocardial cells through irreversible electroporation. However, some experimental parameters and mechanism of pulsed electric fields remain unclear.
2023-11-30 | GSE214387 | GEO
Project description:Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), is the most common form of adult malignant brain tumor, highly heterogeneous and relatively resistant to therapy with a poor prognosis. As other cancers, GBM starts from a relatively small fraction of poorly differentiated and particularly aggressive cancer stem cells (CSCs), responsible for aberrant proliferation and invasion, rapidly spreading the tumor growth in the other parts of the central nervous system. Due to the extreme tumor heterogeneity, standard therapies (i.e., surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy) provide poor positive outcomes and cancers usually recur. Therefore, alternative approaches, possibly targeting CSCs, are necessary for searching effective therapeutic strategies against GBM. Among many emerging new therapeutic strategies, ultra-short pulsed electric fields (PEF) are considered extremely promising in cancer therapy and our previous results demonstrated the capability of a specific electric pulse protocol, characterized by a high pulse amplitude and a short duration, to selectively affect medulloblastoma CSCs preserving normal cells. Here, we tested the same exposure protocol to investigate the response of U87 GBM cells, and of U87-derived neurospheres. By analyzing different in vitro biological endpoints and taking advantage of transcriptomic and bioinformatics analyses, we found that, independently of CSCs content, PEF exposure affected cell proliferation and differentially regulated hypoxia, inflammation and P53/cell cycle checkpoints. PEF exposure also significantly reduced the clonogenic potential, reducing the ability to form new neurospheres, and inhibited the invasion potential. Importantly, exclusively in U87 neurospheres, PEF exposure changed the expression of stemness/differentiation genes. Our results, confirm this physical stimulus as a promising treatment to destabilize the extreme intra-tumoral GBM heterogeneity opening up the possibility to develop future therapeutic strategies mediated by PEF exposure.
2022-03-31 | GSE195506 | GEO
Project description:The impact of nanosecond pulsed electric fields (nsPEFs) on gene electrotransfer has not been clearly demonstrated in previous studies. This study was conducted to evaluate the influence of nsPEFs on the delivery of plasmids encoding luciferase or green fluorescent protein and subsequent expression in HACAT keratinocyte cells. Delivery was performed using millisecond electric pulses (msEPs) with or without nsPEFs. In contrast to reports in the literature, we discovered that gene expression was significantly increased up to 40-fold by applying nsPEFs to cells first followed by one msEP but not in the opposite order. We demonstrated that the effect of nsPEFs on gene transfection was time restricted. The enhancement of gene expression occurred by applying one msEP immediately after nsPEFs and reached the maximum at posttreatment 5 minutes, slightly decreased at 15 minutes and had a residual effect at 1 hour. It appears that nsPEFs play a role as an amplifier without changing the trend of gene expression kinetics due to msEPs. The effect of nsPEFs on cell viability is also dependent on the specific pulse parameters. We also determined that both calcium independent and dependent mechanisms are involved in nsPEF effects on gene electrotransfer.
| S-EPMC4362372 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Degenerative skin diseases affect one third of individuals over the age of sixty. Current therapies use various physical and chemical methods to rejuvenate skin; but since the therapies affect many tissue components including cells and extracellular matrix, they may also induce significant side effects, such as scarring. Here we report on a new, non-invasive, non-thermal technique to rejuvenate skin with pulsed electric fields. The fields destroy cells while simultaneously completely preserving the extracellular matrix architecture and releasing multiple growth factors locally that induce new cells and tissue growth. We have identified the specific pulsed electric field parameters in rats that lead to prominent proliferation of the epidermis, formation of microvasculature, and secretion of new collagen at treated areas without scarring. Our results suggest that pulsed electric fields can improve skin function and thus can potentially serve as a novel non-invasive skin therapy for multiple degenerative skin diseases.
| S-EPMC4428072 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Numerous theoretical studies have been conducted on the effects of high-voltage electric fields on proteins, but few have produced experimental evidence. To acquire experimental data for the amyloid disassemble theory, we exposed transthyretin aggregates to 1,000 ns 1.26 MV/cm pulsed electric fields (PEFs) to promote transthyretin degradation. The process produced no changes in pH, and the resulting temperature increases were < 1 °C. We conclude that the physical effects of PEFs, rather than thermal or chemical effects, facilitate aggregate degradation.
| S-EPMC7371718 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Objective: Increasing numbers of multidrug-resistant bacteria make many antibiotics ineffective; therefore, new approaches to combat microbial infections are needed. In addition, antibiotics are not selective-they kill pathogenic organisms as well as organisms that could positively contribute to wound healing (bio flora). Approach: Here we report on selective inactivation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus epidermidis, potential pathogens involved in wound infections with pulsed electric fields (PEFs) and antibiotics (mix of penicillin, streptomycin, and nystatin). Results: Using a Taguchi experimental design in vitro, we found that, under similar electric field strengths, the pulse duration is the most important parameter for P. aeruginosa inactivation, followed by the number of pulses and pulse frequency. P. aeruginosa, a potential severe pathogen, is more sensitive than the less pathogenic S. epidermidis to PEF (alone or in combination with antibiotics). Applying 200 pulses with a duration of 60??s at 2.8?Hz, the minimum electric fields of 308.8?±?28.3 and 378.4?±?12.9?V/mm were required to inactive P. aeruginosa and S. epidermidis, respectively. Addition of antibiotics reduced the threshold for minimum electric fields required to inactivate the bacteria. Innovation: This study provides essential information, such as critical electric field parameters for bacteria inactivation, required for developing in vivo treatment and clinical protocols for using PEF for wound healing. Conclusion: A combination of PEFs with antibiotics reduces the electric field threshold required for bacteria disinfection. Such an approach simplifies devices required to disinfect large areas of infected wounds.
| S-EPMC6855282 | biostudies-literature