title: Serotonin (5-HT) released by activated white blood cells in a biological fuel cell provide a potential energy source for electricity generation.
abstract: Previous studies by our group have demonstrated the ability of white blood cells to generate small electrical currents, on the order of 1-3 microA/cm(2), when placed at the anode compartment of a proton exchange membrane (PEM) biological fuel cell. In this research study, an electrochemical technique is used to further investigate the electron transfer ability of activated white blood cells at interfacing electrodes in an attempt to elucidate the mechanism of electron transfer in the original biological fuel cell experiments. Cyclic voltammograms were obtained for human white blood cells using a three-electrode system. The working and counter electrodes were made from carbon felt and platinum, respectively, while the reference was a saturated calomel electrode (SCE). Oxidation peaks were observed at an average potential of 363 mV vs. SCE for the PMA/ionomycin activated white blood cells in glucose solution. However a corresponding reduction peak was not observed, suggesting irreversibility of the redox reaction. The cyclic voltammograms recorded for the white blood cells bear very close similarities to those of the neurotransmitter serotonin (5-HT). Serotonin released by white blood cells into the extracellular environment may be irreversibly oxidized at the working electrode in the cyclic voltammetry experiments and at the PEM biological fuel cell anode in our earlier electrochemical cell studies.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Bioeng., Pittsburgh Univ., PA 15261, USA. gusphyl@neuronet.pitt.edu
authors.forename: Gusphyl A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Justin
authors.forename: Mingui
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Yingze
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: X Tracy
authors.initials: XT
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sclabassi
mesh_terms: D003573:Cytochrome b Group / Q000097:blood; D004560:Electricity; D004563:Electrochemistry / Q000379:methods*; D004566:Electrodes; D004594:Electrophysiology; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D019255:NADPH Oxidases / Q000097:blood; D012701:Serotonin / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D003573:Cytochrome b Group; D012701:Serotonin; C036888:cytochrome b558; D019255:NADPH Oxidases