title: Nanosecond electric pulses cause mitochondrial membrane permeabilization in Jurkat cells.
abstract: Nanosecond, high-voltage electric pulses (nsEP) induce permeabilization of the plasma membrane and the membranes of cell organelles, leading to various responses in cells including cytochrome c release from mitochondria and caspase activation associated with apoptosis. We report here evidence for nsEP-induced permeabilization of mitochondrial membranes in living cells. Using three different methods with fluorescence indicators-rhodamine 123 (R123), tetramethyl rhodamine ethyl ester (TMRE), and cobalt-quenched calcein-we have shown that multiple nsEP (five pulses or more, 4 ns duration, 10 MV/m, 1 kHz repetition rate) cause an increase of the inner mitochondrial membrane permeability and an associated loss of mitochondrial membrane potential. These effects could be a consequence of nsEP permeabilization of the inner mitochondrial membrane or the activation of mitochondrial membrane permeability transition pores. Plasma membrane permeabilization (YO-PRO-1 influx) was detected in addition to mitochondrial membrane permeabilization.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Slovenija.
authors.forename: Tina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Batista Napotnik
authors.forename: Yu-Hsuan
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Martin A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Gundersen
authors.forename: Damijan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Miklavčič
authors.forename: P Thomas
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Vernier
mesh_terms: D001583:Benzoxazoles; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability; D004560:Electricity; D005452:Fluoresceins; D006801:Humans; D019169:Jurkat Cells; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / Q000502:physiology*; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D011806:Quinolinium Compounds; D020112:Rhodamine 123
chemical_list: D001583:Benzoxazoles; D005452:Fluoresceins; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D011806:Quinolinium Compounds; C110932:tetramethyl rhodamine ethyl ester; C085925:calcein AM; C089813:YO-PRO 1; D020112:Rhodamine 123