[The Effect of dcEFs on migration behavior of A549 cells and Integrin beta1 expression.].
BACKGROUND
The effect of direct-current electric fields (dcEFs) on cells attracted extensive attention. Moreover the metastasis and its potential are considered to be related to dcEFs. The aim is to study the effect of dcEFs on migration behavior of A549 cells, Integrin beta1 and its signal pathways.


METHODS
According to exposure to 5 V/cm dcEFs or not and the time of exposure, the A549 cells were divided into 4 groups. Images were taken per 5 min within 2 h to recode the migration of the cells. The data of results were analyzed statistically.


RESULTS
Most of A549cells exposed to the dcEFs aligned and elongated perpendicularly to the electric field lines and migrated to the cathode continually during 2 h. On the contrary, cells unexposed to dcEFs showed slightly random movements. Immunofluorescence showed that Integrin beta1 on plasma membrane polarized to the cathode of the dcEFs. Western blot showed that Integrin beta1 downstream signal pathways p-FAK and p-ERK were overexpressed in the dcEFs.


CONCLUSIONS
A549 cells have a galvanotatic feature of cathodal directed migration while exposed to the dcEFs. The polarization of Integrin beta1 and the promotion of its downstream signal pathways may play an important roles in the galvanotaxis of A549 cells.
Yan
Xiaolong
X
Department of Thoracic Surgery, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xian, Shanxi 710038, China.
Han
Jing
J
Zhang
Zhipei
Z
Wang
Jian
J
Ni
Yunfeng
Y
Gao
Kunxiang
K
Wang
Yunjie
Y