Environmental temperature affects physiology and survival of nanosecond pulsed electric field-treated cells

J Cell Physiol. 2018 Feb;233(2):1179-1190. doi: 10.1002/jcp.25984. Epub 2017 Jun 6.

Abstract

Nanosecond pulsed electric field (nsPEF) is a novel non-thermal tumor ablation technique. However, how nsPEF affect cell physiology at different environmental temperature is still kept unknown. But this issue is of critical clinical practice relevance. This work aim to investigate how nsPEF treated cancer cells react to different environmental temperatures (0, 4, 25, and 37°C). Their cell viability, apoptosis, mitochondrial membrane potential, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were examined. Lower temperature resulted in higher apoptosis rate, decreased mitochondria membrane potential, and increased ROS levels. Sucrose and N-acetylcysteine (NAC) pre-incubation inhibit ROS generation and increase cell survival, protecting nsPEF-treated cells from low temperature-caused cell death. This work provides an experimental basis for hypothermia and fluid transfusion during nsPEF ablation with anesthesia.

Keywords: nanosecond pulsed electric field (nsPEF); reactive oxygen species (ROS); temperature.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Ablation Techniques / methods*
  • Acetylcysteine / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Antioxidants / pharmacology
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Separation / methods
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Centrifugation
  • Electric Stimulation / methods*
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Humans
  • Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / drug effects
  • Mice
  • Mitochondria / drug effects
  • Mitochondria / metabolism
  • Mitochondria / pathology
  • Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Neoplasms / pathology
  • Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
  • Sucrose / pharmacology
  • Temperature*
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Sucrose
  • Acetylcysteine