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Cervera J, Manzanares JA, Levin M, Mafe S. Oscillatory phenomena in electrophysiological networks: The coupling between cell bioelectricity and transcription. Comput Biol Med 2024; 180:108964. [PMID: 39106669 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2024.108964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2024] [Revised: 07/04/2024] [Accepted: 07/27/2024] [Indexed: 08/09/2024]
Abstract
Morphogenetic regulation during embryogenesis and regeneration rely on information transfer and coordination between different regions. Here, we explore theoretically the coupling between bioelectrical and transcriptional oscillations at the individual cell and multicellular levels. The simulations, based on a set of ion channels and intercellular gap junctions, show that bioelectrical and transcriptional waves can electrophysiologically couple distant regions of a model network in phase and antiphase oscillatory states that include synchronization phenomena. In this way, different multicellular regionalizations can be encoded by cell potentials that oscillate between depolarized and polarized states, thus allowing a spatio-temporal coding. Because the electric potential patterns characteristic of development and regeneration are correlated with the spatial distributions of signaling ions and molecules, bioelectricity can act as a template for slow biochemical signals following a hierarchy of experimental times. In particular, bioelectrical gradients that couple cell potentials to transcription rates give to each single cell a rough idea of its location in the multicellular ensemble, thus controlling local differentiation processes that switch on and off crucial parts of the genome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Cervera
- Dept. Termodinàmica, Facultat de Física, Universitat de València, 46100, Burjassot, Spain.
| | - José A Manzanares
- Dept. Termodinàmica, Facultat de Física, Universitat de València, 46100, Burjassot, Spain
| | - Michael Levin
- Dept. of Biology, Tufts University, Medford, MA, 02155, USA; Allen Discovery Center at Tufts University, Medford, MA, 02155, USA; Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Salvador Mafe
- Dept. Termodinàmica, Facultat de Física, Universitat de València, 46100, Burjassot, Spain; Allen Discovery Center at Tufts University, Medford, MA, 02155, USA
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2
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Ribeiro M, Ali P, Metcalfe B, Moschou D, Rocha PRF. Microfluidics Integration into Low-Noise Multi-Electrode Arrays. MICROMACHINES 2021; 12:727. [PMID: 34203087 PMCID: PMC8234466 DOI: 10.3390/mi12060727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Revised: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Organ-on-Chip technology is commonly used as a tool to replace animal testing in drug development. Cells or tissues are cultured on a microchip to replicate organ-level functions, where measurements of the electrical activity can be taken to understand how the cell populations react to different drugs. Microfluidic structures are integrated in these devices to replicate more closely an in vivo microenvironment. Research has provided proof of principle that more accurate replications of the microenvironment result in better micro-physiological behaviour, which in turn results in a higher predictive power. This work shows a transition from a no-flow (static) multi-electrode array (MEA) to a continuous-flow (dynamic) MEA, assuring a continuous and homogeneous transfer of an electrolyte solution across the measurement chamber. The process through which the microfluidic system was designed, simulated, and fabricated is described, and electrical characterisation of the whole structure under static solution and a continuous flow rate of 80 µL/min was performed. The latter reveals minimal background disturbance, with a background noise below 30 µVpp for all flow rates and areas. This microfluidic MEA, therefore, opens new avenues for more accurate and long-term recordings in Organ-on-Chip systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mafalda Ribeiro
- Centre for Accountable, Responsible, and Transparent AI (ART-AI), Department of Computer Science, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK;
- Centre for Biosensors, Bioelectronics, and Biodevices (C3Bio), Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK; (P.A.); (B.M.)
| | - Pamela Ali
- Centre for Biosensors, Bioelectronics, and Biodevices (C3Bio), Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK; (P.A.); (B.M.)
| | - Benjamin Metcalfe
- Centre for Biosensors, Bioelectronics, and Biodevices (C3Bio), Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK; (P.A.); (B.M.)
| | - Despina Moschou
- Centre for Biosensors, Bioelectronics, and Biodevices (C3Bio), Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK; (P.A.); (B.M.)
| | - Paulo R. F. Rocha
- Centre for Functional Ecology (CFE), Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
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Rocha PRF, Elghajiji A, Tosh D. Ultrasensitive System for Electrophysiology of Cancer Cell Populations: A Review. Bioelectricity 2019; 1:131-138. [PMID: 34471815 DOI: 10.1089/bioe.2019.0020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Bioelectricity is the electrical activity produced by living organisms. Understanding the role of bioelectricity in a disease context is important as it contributes to both disease diagnosis and therapeutic intervention. Electrophysiology tools work well for neuronal cultures; however, they are limited in their ability to detect the electrical activity of non-neuronal cells, wherein the majority of cancers arise. Electronic structures capable of detecting and modulating signaling, in real-time, in electrically quiescent cells are urgently required. One of the limitations to understanding the role of bioelectricity in cancer is the inability to detect low-level signals. In this study, we review our latest advances in devising bidirectional transducers with large electrode areas and concomitant low impedances. The resulting high sensitivity is demonstrated by the extracellular detection of electrical activity in Rat-C6 glioma and prostate cancer (PC-3) cell populations. By using specific inhibitors, we further demonstrated that the large electrical activity in Rat-C6 glioma populations is acidosis driven. For PC-3 cells, the use of a calcium inhibitor together with the slowly varying nature of the signal suggests that Ca2+ channels are involved in the cohort electrogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulo R F Rocha
- Centre for Biosensors, Bioelectronics and Biodevices (C3Bio), Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom
| | - Aya Elghajiji
- Centre for Biosensors, Bioelectronics and Biodevices (C3Bio), Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom.,Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom
| | - David Tosh
- Centre for Biosensors, Bioelectronics and Biodevices (C3Bio), Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom.,Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom
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Cervera J, Manzanares JA, Mafe S, Levin M. Synchronization of Bioelectric Oscillations in Networks of Nonexcitable Cells: From Single-Cell to Multicellular States. J Phys Chem B 2019; 123:3924-3934. [PMID: 31003574 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.9b01717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Biological networks use collective oscillations for information processing tasks. In particular, oscillatory membrane potentials have been observed in nonexcitable cells and bacterial communities where specific ion channel proteins contribute to the bioelectric coordination of large populations. We aim at describing theoretically the oscillatory spatiotemporal patterns that emerge at the multicellular level from the single-cell bioelectric dynamics. To this end, we focus on two key questions: (i) What single-cell properties are relevant to multicellular behavior? (ii) What properties defined at the multicellular level can allow an external control of the bioelectric dynamics? In particular, we explore the interplay between transcriptional and translational dynamics and membrane potential dynamics in a model multicellular ensemble, describe the spatiotemporal patterns that arise when the average electric potential allows groups of cells to act as a coordinated multicellular patch, and characterize the resulting synchronization phenomena. The simulations concern bioelectric networks and collective communication across different scales based on oscillatory and synchronization phenomena, thus shedding light on the physiological dynamics of a wide range of endogenous contexts across embryogenesis and regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Cervera
- Departament de Termodinàmica, Facultat de Física , Universitat de València , E-46100 Burjassot , Spain
| | - José Antonio Manzanares
- Departament de Termodinàmica, Facultat de Física , Universitat de València , E-46100 Burjassot , Spain
| | - Salvador Mafe
- Departament de Termodinàmica, Facultat de Física , Universitat de València , E-46100 Burjassot , Spain
| | - Michael Levin
- Allen Discovery Center at Tufts University, Department of Biology , Tufts University Medford , Massachusetts 02155-4243 , United States
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Cervera J, Manzanares JA, Mafe S. Cell-cell bioelectrical interactions and local heterogeneities in genetic networks: a model for the stabilization of single-cell states and multicellular oscillations. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2019; 20:9343-9354. [PMID: 29564429 DOI: 10.1039/c8cp00648b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Genetic networks operate in the presence of local heterogeneities in single-cell transcription and translation rates. Bioelectrical networks and spatio-temporal maps of cell electric potentials can influence multicellular ensembles. Could cell-cell bioelectrical interactions mediated by intercellular gap junctions contribute to the stabilization of multicellular states against local genetic heterogeneities? We theoretically analyze this question on the basis of two well-established experimental facts: (i) the membrane potential is a reliable read-out of the single-cell electrical state and (ii) when the cells are coupled together, their individual cell potentials can be influenced by ensemble-averaged electrical potentials. We propose a minimal biophysical model for the coupling between genetic and bioelectrical networks that associates the local changes occurring in the transcription and translation rates of an ion channel protein with abnormally low (depolarized) cell potentials. We then analyze the conditions under which the depolarization of a small region (patch) in a multicellular ensemble can be reverted by its bioelectrical coupling with the (normally polarized) neighboring cells. We show also that the coupling between genetic and bioelectric networks of non-excitable cells, modulated by average electric potentials at the multicellular ensemble level, can produce oscillatory phenomena. The simulations show the importance of single-cell potentials characteristic of polarized and depolarized states, the relative sizes of the abnormally polarized patch and the rest of the normally polarized ensemble, and intercellular coupling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Cervera
- Dept. Termodinàmica, Fac. Física, Universitat de València, 46100 Burjassot, Spain.
| | - José A Manzanares
- Dept. Termodinàmica, Fac. Física, Universitat de València, 46100 Burjassot, Spain.
| | - Salvador Mafe
- Dept. Termodinàmica, Fac. Física, Universitat de València, 46100 Burjassot, Spain.
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Cabello M, Ge H, Aracil C, Moschou D, Estrela P, Manuel Quero J, I Pascu S, R F Rocha P. Extracellular Electrophysiology in the Prostate Cancer Cell Model PC-3. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2019; 19:E139. [PMID: 30609788 PMCID: PMC6339143 DOI: 10.3390/s19010139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2018] [Revised: 12/17/2018] [Accepted: 12/20/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Although prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in the male population, its basic biological function at a cellular level remains to be fully understood. This lack of in depth understanding of its physiology significantly hinders the development of new, targeted and more effective treatment strategies. Whilst electrophysiological studies can provide in depth analysis, the possibility of recording electrical activity in large populations of non-neuronal cells remains a significant challenge, even harder to address in the picoAmpere-range, which is typical of cellular level electrical activities. In this paper, we present the measurement and characterization of electrical activity of populations of prostate cancer cells PC-3, demonstrating for the first time a meaningful electrical pattern. The low noise system used comprises a multi-electrode array (MEA) with circular gold electrodes on silicon oxide substrates. The extracellular capacitive currents present two standard patterns: an asynchronous sporadic pattern and a synchronous quasi-periodic biphasic spike pattern. An amplitude of ±150 pA, a width between 50⁻300 ms and an inter-spike interval around 0.5 Hz characterize the quasi-periodic spikes. Our experiments using treatment of cells with Gd³⁺, known as an inhibitor for the Ca²⁺ exchanges, suggest that the quasi-periodic signals originate from Ca²⁺ channels. After adding the Gd³⁺ to a population of living PC-3 cells, their electrical activity considerably decreased; once the culture was washed, thus eliminating the Gd³⁺ containing medium and addition of fresh cellular growth medium, the PC-3 cells recovered their normal electrical activity. Cellular viability plots have been carried out, demonstrating that the PC-3 cells remain viable after the use of Gd³⁺, on the timescale of this experiment. Hence, this experimental work suggests that Ca²⁺ is significantly affecting the electrophysiological communication pattern among PC-3 cell populations. Our measuring platform opens up new avenues for real time and highly sensitive investigations of prostate cancer signalling pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Cabello
- Department of Electronic Engineering, Escuela Superior de Ingenieros, University of Seville, 41004 Seville, Spain.
| | - Haobo Ge
- Department of Chemistry, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY, UK.
| | - Carmen Aracil
- Department of Electronic Engineering, Escuela Superior de Ingenieros, University of Seville, 41004 Seville, Spain.
| | - Despina Moschou
- Centre for Biosensors, Bioelectronics and Biodevices (C3Bio), Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY, UK.
| | - Pedro Estrela
- Centre for Biosensors, Bioelectronics and Biodevices (C3Bio), Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY, UK.
| | - Jose Manuel Quero
- Department of Electronic Engineering, Escuela Superior de Ingenieros, University of Seville, 41004 Seville, Spain.
| | - Sofia I Pascu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY, UK.
| | - Paulo R F Rocha
- Centre for Biosensors, Bioelectronics and Biodevices (C3Bio), Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY, UK.
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Cervera J, Meseguer S, Mafe S. Intercellular Connectivity and Multicellular Bioelectric Oscillations in Nonexcitable Cells: A Biophysical Model. ACS OMEGA 2018; 3:13567-13575. [PMID: 30411043 PMCID: PMC6217649 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.8b01514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2018] [Accepted: 10/08/2018] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Bioelectricity is emerging as a crucial mechanism for signal transmission and processing from the single-cell level to multicellular domains. We explore theoretically the oscillatory dynamics that result from the coupling between the genetic and bioelectric descriptions of nonexcitable cells in multicellular ensembles, connecting the genetic prepatterns defined over the ensemble with the resulting spatio-temporal map of cell potentials. These prepatterns assume the existence of a small patch in the ensemble with locally low values of the genetic rate constants that produce a specific ion channel protein whose conductance promotes the cell-polarized state (inward-rectifying channel). In this way, the short-range interactions of the cells within the patch favor the depolarized membrane potential state, whereas the long-range interaction of the patch with the rest of the ensemble promotes the polarized state. The coupling between the local and long-range bioelectric signals allows a binary control of the patch membrane potentials, and alternating cell polarization and depolarization states can be maintained for optimal windows of the number of cells and the intercellular connectivity in the patch. The oscillatory phenomena emerge when the feedback between the single-cell bioelectric and genetic dynamics is coupled at the multicellular level. In this way, the intercellular connectivity acts as a regulatory mechanism for the bioelectrical oscillations. The simulation results are qualitatively discussed in the context of recent experimental studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Cervera
- Departamento
de Termodinàmica, Facultat de Física,
Universitat de València, E-46100 Burjassot, Spain
| | - Salvador Meseguer
- Laboratory
of RNA Modification and Mitochondrial Diseases, Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, 46012 Valencia, Spain
| | - Salvador Mafe
- Departamento
de Termodinàmica, Facultat de Física,
Universitat de València, E-46100 Burjassot, Spain
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Mestre ALG, Cerquido M, Inácio PMC, Asgarifar S, Lourenço AS, Cristiano MLS, Aguiar P, Medeiros MCR, Araújo IM, Ventura J, Gomes HL. Ultrasensitive gold micro-structured electrodes enabling the detection of extra-cellular long-lasting potentials in astrocytes populations. Sci Rep 2017; 7:14284. [PMID: 29079771 PMCID: PMC5660243 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-14697-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2017] [Accepted: 10/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Ultra-sensitive electrodes for extracellular recordings were fabricated and electrically characterized. A signal detection limit defined by a noise level of 0.3-0.4 μV for a bandwidth of 12.5 Hz was achieved. To obtain this high sensitivity, large area (4 mm2) electrodes were used. The electrode surface is also micro-structured with an array of gold mushroom-like shapes to further enhance the active area. In comparison with a flat gold surface, the micro-structured surface increases the capacitance of the electrode/electrolyte interface by 54%. The electrode low impedance and low noise enable the detection of weak and low frequency quasi-periodic signals produced by astrocytes populations that thus far had remained inaccessible using conventional extracellular electrodes. Signals with 5 μV in amplitude and lasting for 5-10 s were measured, with a peak-to-peak signal-to-noise ratio of 16. The electrodes and the methodology developed here can be used as an ultrasensitive electrophysiological tool to reveal the synchronization dynamics of ultra-slow ionic signalling between non-electrogenic cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana L G Mestre
- Universidade do Algarve, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal
- Instituto de Telecomunicações, Avenida Rovisco Pais 1, 1049-001, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Mónica Cerquido
- Instituto de Física dos Materiais da Universidade do Porto, Instituto de Nanociências e Nanotecnologia, Departamento de Física e Astronomia, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre 687, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal
| | - Pedro M C Inácio
- Universidade do Algarve, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal
- Instituto de Telecomunicações, Avenida Rovisco Pais 1, 1049-001, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Sanaz Asgarifar
- Universidade do Algarve, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal
- Instituto de Telecomunicações, Avenida Rovisco Pais 1, 1049-001, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Ana S Lourenço
- Departamento de Ciências Biomédicas e Medicina, Universidade do Algarve, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal
- Centro de Investigação em Biomedicina, Universidade do Algarve, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal
| | - Maria L S Cristiano
- Universidade do Algarve, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal
- Centro de Ciências do Mar, Universidade do Algarve, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal
| | - Paulo Aguiar
- Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen 208, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal
| | - Maria C R Medeiros
- Instituto de Telecomunicações, Departamento de Engenharia Electrotécnica e Computadores, Universidade de Coimbra, 3030-290, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Inês M Araújo
- Departamento de Ciências Biomédicas e Medicina, Universidade do Algarve, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal
- Centro de Investigação em Biomedicina, Universidade do Algarve, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal
| | - João Ventura
- Instituto de Física dos Materiais da Universidade do Porto, Instituto de Nanociências e Nanotecnologia, Departamento de Física e Astronomia, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre 687, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal
| | - Henrique L Gomes
- Universidade do Algarve, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal.
- Instituto de Telecomunicações, Avenida Rovisco Pais 1, 1049-001, Lisboa, Portugal.
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Rocha PRF, Medeiros MCR, Kintzel U, Vogt J, Araújo IM, Mestre ALG, Mailänder V, Schlett P, Dröge M, Schneider L, Biscarini F, de Leeuw DM, Gomes HL. Extracellular electrical recording of pH-triggered bursts in C6 glioma cell populations. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2016; 2:e1600516. [PMID: 28028533 PMCID: PMC5182051 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.1600516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2016] [Accepted: 11/18/2016] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Glioma patients often suffer from epileptic seizures because of the tumor's impact on the brain physiology. Using the rat glioma cell line C6 as a model system, we performed long-term live recordings of the electrical activity of glioma populations in an ultrasensitive detection method. The transducer exploits large-area electrodes that maximize double-layer capacitance, thus increasing the sensitivity. This strategy allowed us to record glioma electrical activity. We show that although glioma cells are nonelectrogenic, they display a remarkable electrical burst activity in time. The low-frequency current noise after cell adhesion is dominated by the flow of Na+ ions through voltage-gated ion channels. However, after an incubation period of many hours, the current noise markedly increased. This electric bursting phenomenon was not associated with apoptosis because the cells were viable and proliferative during the period of increased electric activity. We detected a rapid cell culture medium acidification accompanying this event. By using specific inhibitors, we showed that the electrical bursting activity was prompted by extracellular pH changes, which enhanced Na+ ion flux through the psalmotoxin 1-sensitive acid-sensing ion channels. Our model of pH-triggered bursting was unambiguously supported by deliberate, external acidification of the cell culture medium. This unexpected, acidosis-driven electrical activity is likely to directly perturb, in vivo, the functionality of the healthy neuronal network in the vicinity of the tumor bulk and may contribute to seizures in glioma patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulo R. F. Rocha
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, D-55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Maria C. R. Medeiros
- Instituto de Telecomunicações, Departamento de Engenharia Electrotécnica e de Computadores, Universidade de Coimbra, 3030-290 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Ulrike Kintzel
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, D-55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Johannes Vogt
- Institute of Microanatomy and Neurobiology, University Medical Center Mainz, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Inês M. Araújo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Medicine, University of Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
- Centre for Biomedical Research, University of Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
| | - Ana L. G. Mestre
- Instituto de Telecomunicações, Avenida Rovisco, Pais 1, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal
- Universidade do Algarve, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
| | - Volker Mailänder
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, D-55128 Mainz, Germany
- Dermatology Clinic, University Medicine of the Johannes-Gutenberg Universität Mainz, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Paul Schlett
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, D-55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Melanie Dröge
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, D-55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Leonid Schneider
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, D-55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Fabio Biscarini
- Department of Life Sciences, Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 103, I-41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Dago M. de Leeuw
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, D-55128 Mainz, Germany
- Faculty of Aerospace Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Kluyverweg 1, 2629 HS, Delft, Netherlands
| | - Henrique L. Gomes
- Instituto de Telecomunicações, Avenida Rovisco, Pais 1, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal
- Universidade do Algarve, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
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10
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Rocha PRF, Schlett P, Kintzel U, Mailänder V, Vandamme LKJ, Zeck G, Gomes HL, Biscarini F, de Leeuw DM. Electrochemical noise and impedance of Au electrode/electrolyte interfaces enabling extracellular detection of glioma cell populations. Sci Rep 2016; 6:34843. [PMID: 27708378 PMCID: PMC5052567 DOI: 10.1038/srep34843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2016] [Accepted: 09/19/2016] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Microelectrode arrays (MEA) record extracellular local field potentials of cells adhered to the electrodes. A disadvantage is the limited signal-to-noise ratio. The state-of-the-art background noise level is about 10 μVpp. Furthermore, in MEAs low frequency events are filtered out. Here, we quantitatively analyze Au electrode/electrolyte interfaces with impedance spectroscopy and noise measurements. The equivalent circuit is the charge transfer resistance in parallel with a constant phase element that describes the double layer capacitance, in series with a spreading resistance. This equivalent circuit leads to a Maxwell-Wagner relaxation frequency, the value of which is determined as a function of electrode area and molarity of an aqueous KCl electrolyte solution. The electrochemical voltage and current noise is measured as a function of electrode area and frequency and follow unambiguously from the measured impedance. By using large area electrodes the noise floor can be as low as 0.3 μVpp. The resulting high sensitivity is demonstrated by the extracellular detection of C6 glioma cell populations. Their minute electrical activity can be clearly detected at a frequency below about 10 Hz, which shows that the methodology can be used to monitor slow cooperative biological signals in cell populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulo R. F. Rocha
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, D-55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Paul Schlett
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, D-55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Ulrike Kintzel
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, D-55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Volker Mailänder
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, D-55128 Mainz, Germany
- Dermatology Clinic, University Medicine of the Johannes-Gutenberg Universität Mainz, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Lode K. J. Vandamme
- Electrical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, 5600MB Eindhoven, Netherlands
| | - Gunther Zeck
- Natural and Medical Sciences Institute, Markwiesenstrasse 55, D-72770 Reutlingen, Germany
| | - Henrique L. Gomes
- IT-Instituto de Telecomunicações, Av. Rovisco, Pais, 1, 1049 - 001 Lisboa, Portugal
- Universidade do Algarve, FCT, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
| | - Fabio Biscarini
- Life Science Department, Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 103, I-41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Dago M. de Leeuw
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, D-55128 Mainz, Germany
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Cervera J, Alcaraz A, Mafe S. Bioelectrical Signals and Ion Channels in the Modeling of Multicellular Patterns and Cancer Biophysics. Sci Rep 2016; 6:20403. [PMID: 26841954 PMCID: PMC4740742 DOI: 10.1038/srep20403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2015] [Accepted: 01/06/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Bioelectrical signals and ion channels are central to spatial patterns in cell ensembles, a problem of fundamental interest in positional information and cancer processes. We propose a model for electrically connected cells based on simple biological concepts: i) the membrane potential of a single cell characterizes its electrical state; ii) the long-range electrical coupling of the multicellular ensemble is realized by a network of gap junction channels between neighboring cells; and iii) the spatial distribution of an external biochemical agent can modify the conductances of the ion channels in a cell membrane and the multicellular electrical state. We focus on electrical effects in small multicellular ensembles, ignoring slow diffusional processes. The spatio-temporal patterns obtained for the local map of cell electric potentials illustrate the normalization of regions with abnormal cell electrical states. The effects of intercellular coupling and blocking of specific channels on the electrical patterns are described. These patterns can regulate the electrically-induced redistribution of charged nanoparticles over small regions of a model tissue. The inclusion of bioelectrical signals provides new insights for the modeling of cancer biophysics because collective multicellular states show electrical coupling mechanisms that are not readily deduced from biochemical descriptions at the individual cell level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Cervera
- Dept. de Termodinàmica, Facultat de Física, Universitat de València, E-46100 Burjassot, Spain
| | - Antonio Alcaraz
- Dept. de Física, Laboratori de Biofísica Molecular, Universitat “Jaume I”, E-12080 Castelló, Spain
| | - Salvador Mafe
- Dept. de Termodinàmica, Facultat de Física, Universitat de València, E-46100 Burjassot, Spain
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