Effects of electric pulses on apoptosis induction and mitochondrial transmembrane potential of cancer cells

摘要

Application of electric pulses is becoming a promising strategy to killing cancer.In this study,the effects of different pulses on the apoptosis and mitochondrial transmembrane potential of human cancer cells SMMC7721 were studied.In our experiments,the apoptosis in cells was determined using Annexin-V-FITC.Results showed that 1.8μs,200V/cm and 250 V/cm electric fields induced cells apoptosis while 120ns,600V/cm pulses didn’t have significant apoptotic effect on cells.Using confocal microscopy,changes of mitochondrial transmembrane potential (ΔΦm) were investigated when cells exposed to electric fields in real-time way.Results showed that the electric stimulation decreased mitochondrial transmembrane potential.Interestingly,the mitochondrial transmembrane potential decreased more significantly in cells that were exposed to the 120ns,600V/cm electric fields (67.09%) compared to the cells in 1.8μs,200V/cm and 250V/cm (23.71%,28.44%).In conclusion,electric pulses can induce cell apoptosis and decrease the mitochondrial transmembrane potential,depending on the duration and electric intensity of electric pulses.Moreover,shorter pulses have more effect on intracellular structure.