Study type: Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Direct current electrical fields induce apoptosis in oral mucosa cancer cells by NADPH oxidase-derived reactive oxygen species med./bio.

Published in: Bioelectromagnetics 2008; 29 (1): 47-54

Aim of study (acc. to author)

This study was performed to investigate the effects of electrical fields on apoptosis of oral mucosa cancer cells in vitro.

Background/further details

As the presence of more than one dental alloy in the oral cavity often causes direct currents and voltage the cellular apoptosis mechanisms on oral mucosa cancer cells exposed to electric fields should be investigated. Oxidation-reduction using amongst others free radical scavengers were characterized in particular.

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure Parameters
Exposure 1:
Modulation type: pulsed
Exposure duration: continuous for 24 h

Exposure 1

Main characteristics
Frequency
Type
Waveform
Exposure duration continuous for 24 h
Modulation
Modulation type pulsed
Pulse width 900 ms
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Setup 14 silver electrodes with a distance of 5 cm placed into the culture medium at the border of the petri dish; for each pulse a different electrode pair was used to generate a rotating field
Sham exposure A sham exposure was conducted.
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
electric field strength 2 V/m minimum - - -
electric field strength 16 V/m maximum - - -

Exposed system:

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

Investigated system:
Investigated organ system:
Time of investigation:
  • after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

The electrical fields exposure to oral mucosa cancer cells, dose-dependently resulted in decreased cell proliferation, increased cell cycle arrest, and increased apoptosis. Furthermore, robust reactive oxygen species generation, increased expression of NADPH oxidase subunits as well as heat shock protein 70 was observed.
These results and the observation with free radical scavengers suggest that apoptosis in oral mucosa cancer cells is initated by reactive oxidative species generation in response to direct current electrical field exposure.

Study character:

Study funded by

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