Dose-Dependent Thresholds of 10-ns Electric Pulse Induced Plasma Membrane Disruption and Cytotoxicity in Multiple Cell Lines

Abstract

In this study, we determined the LD50 (50% lethal dose) for cell death, and the ED50 (50% of cell population staining positive) for propidium (Pr) iodide uptake, and phosphatidylserine (PS) externalization for several commonly studied cell lines (HeLa, Jurkat, U937, CHO-K1, and GH3) exposed to 10-ns electric pulses (EP). We found that the LD50 varied substantially across the cell lines studied, increasing from 51 J/g for Jurkat to 1861 J/g for HeLa. PS externalized at doses equal or lower than that required for death in all cell lines ranging from 51 J/g in Jurkat, to 199 J/g in CHO-K1. Pr uptake occurred at doses lower than required for death in three of the cell lines: 656 J/g for CHO-K1, 634 J/g for HeLa, and 142 J/g for GH3. Both Jurkat and U937 had a LD50 lower than the ED50 for Pr uptake at 780 J/g and 1274 J/g, respectively. The mechanism responsible for these differences was explored by evaluating cell size, calcium concentration in the exposure medium, and effect of trypsin treatment prior to exposure. None of the studied parameters correlated with the observed results suggesting that cellular susceptibility to injury and death by 10-ns EP was largely determined by cell physiology. In contrast to previous studies, our findings suggest that permeabilization of internal membranes may not necessarily be responsible for cell death by 10-ns EP. Additionally, a mixture of Jurkat and HeLa cells was exposed to 10-ns EP at a dose of 280 J/g. Death was observed only in Jurkat cells suggesting that 10-ns EP may selectively kill cells within a heterogeneous tissue.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 2011
Accession Number
ADA536153

Entities

People

  • Andrei G Pakhomov
  • Bennett L. Ibey
  • Boris Rubinsky
  • Caleb C Roth
  • Gerald J. Wilmink
  • Joshua A. Bernhard
  • Olda N. Pakhomova

Organizations

  • 711th Human Performance Wing

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Azo Compounds
  • Blood
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Membrane
  • Cell Physiological Processes
  • Cell Size
  • Cells
  • Cellular Structures
  • Electric Fields
  • Frequency
  • Lymphocytes
  • Measurement
  • Membranes
  • Pulse Amplitude
  • Toxicity
  • United States

Fields of Study

  • Biology

Readers

  • Cellular and Molecular Pathways of Apoptosis.
  • Nuclear and Radiation Engineering.
  • Pulsed Power and Plasma Physics.